Conflicting messages from Trump administration officials about a new $100,000 H-1B visa fee created widespread confusion over the weekend, prompting major corporations to issue urgent travel advisories and forcing the White House to clarify the policy as it took effect Sunday.
The confusion started Friday when Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told reporters at a White House briefing that companies would pay “$100,000 per year” for H-1B visas, including renewals. However, President Donald Trump signed an official proclamation that same day that used ambiguous language and left key details unclear.
“A company that wants to buy an H-1B visa… it’s $100,000 per year,” Lutnick said Friday, adding that companies must decide whether workers possess “valuable enough” skills to justify “a $100,000 a year payment to the government.”
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The mixed signals prompted technology giants and financial firms to issue emergency travel warnings. Amazon, Microsoft, Meta and JPMorgan Chase advised H1B employees overseas to return to the United States immediately. Workers abandoned planned trips and rushed to airports to beat the Sunday 12:01 a.m. deadline.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a clarification Saturday evening that directly contradicted Lutnick’s repeated statements about annual fees.
“This is NOT an annual fee. It’s a one-time fee that applies only to the petition,” Leavitt posted on social media. She added that the government will not charge current H-1B holders abroad “$100,000 to re-enter.”
Immigration attorneys said the conflicting guidance created chaos for clients. Allen Orr, an immigration lawyer with the National Bar Association, described “mass confusion” among workers who wondered whether they could travel safely.
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“When the government announces a major new policy potentially affecting the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in an extremely concrete way, AT THE VERY LEAST it owes people precise information,” Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council said.
The State Department, which oversees visa entry policies, has not yet released detailed implementation guidance. A White House official acknowledged Saturday that the administration continues discussing renewal policies, suggesting officials continue working out critical details.
The H-1B program distributes 85,000 annual work visas for foreign professionals in specialized fields through a lottery system. Technology companies use the program most heavily.
Trump designed the new fee as his most significant action to date targeting legal immigration pathways for skilled workers. India’s government expressed concern Saturday about potential disruptions to worker mobility between the two countries.
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Business groups and immigration advocates warn that the steep fee could drive talented workers to other countries, potentially weakening the US’s competitive advantage in technology and innovation. The policy may particularly impact startups and smaller companies that cannot afford the hefty payments, while larger corporations with deeper pockets continue accessing international talent.
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