What we know as of Saturday, September 20, 7:20am EDT
On September 19, 2025, President Trump issued a proclamation requiring payment of a $100k fee for anyone seeking to enter the US in H-1B status. The proclamation is effective date is 12:01 a.m. EDT Sunday, September 21, 2025, and is set to expire after one year. H1B workers should return to the US prior to this time if at all possible.
Details regarding implementation have not yet been released, but here is what we know:
- The proclamation is effective 12:01 a.m. EDT September 21, 2025. It expires in 12 months but may be extended.
- The proclamation impacts H-1 B workers who are physically outside of the US at that time.
- It does not appear to impact H-1B workers who are physically in the US at that time, but it could impact those who subsequently leave and try to reenter the US in H-1B status.
- USCIS will not adjudicate petitions for H-1B workers who are currently outside of the US unless they are accompanied by proof that the $100,000 fee has been paid.
- Extensions of stay inside the U.S., including change of employer, change of status, and amended petitions, appear to be exempt.
Exceptions: There may be exceptions for an individual, a company, or an industry, if DHS determines that it is in the national interest of the U.S. to allow H1B workers to enter. It is not yet clear how this exception may be applied for.