H-1B visa fee higher than yearly salary of most H-1B visa holders - see salary vs visa fee comparison

In a major development in the US immigration policy, President Donald Trump on Friday announced a new $100,000 annual fee for H-1B visa applications, which will come into effect from September 21, 2025.

The substantial rise in the fee, that the President announced on Friday, has raised several concerns, and a detailed market analysis shows that it might even surpass the annual salaries of many H-1B visa holders, particularly those in entry-level positions, thus causing a large amount of problems to the common man with the H-1B visa.

Salary vs Visa Fee Comparison

Average H-1B Salary: According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary for H-1B visa holders in the US is approximately $167,533.

Entry-Level Salaries: Things are going to get even trickier for entry-level workers with relatively lower starting salaries. For recent graduates or those in early-career stages, annual salaries can range from $60,000 to $100,000, depending on the industry and location.

$100,000 Fee Impact: The new fee announced by President Trump is effectively a significant financial burden, especially for those at the lower end of the salary spectrum.

An analysis by Hindustan Times indicates that the newly imposed $100,000 fee is more than the median annual salary of a fresh H-1B visa holder and exceeds over 80% of the average annual salary of all H-1B visa holders.

“The six-figure ($100,000) application fee — which (US Secretary of Commerce Howard) Lutnick said employers would have to pay annually — marks a departure for the government, which currently charges $215 to register for an H-1B visa lottery and an additional $780 for employers that sponsor visa applicants. A White House executive order states that the payment is an application fee and does not mention an annual payment," a report by the Financial Express said.

Major US tech companies, including Microsoft and Amazon, have already issued advisories urging employees on H-1B and H-4 visas to remain in the country while authorities clarify the policy’s details.

However, critics are currently arguing that the fee could potentially discourage companies from sponsoring H-1B visas altogether, limiting access to skilled labour and potentially slowing innovation in the country.