H-1B visa applications for new workers from abroad fell by approximately 87 percent in the months after President Trump imposed a $100,000 fee on such petitions in September 2025.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data showed that petitions not subject to the annual cap and requesting consulate notification for applicants outside the United States declined dramatically compared with the prior year. Between September 21, 2025, and February 15, 2026, only 85 payments of the new fee were received, generating $8.5 million.

The fee applied to employers seeking to bring H-1B workers into the country from abroad. It did not affect renewals or changes of status for those already in the United States. The policy aimed to prioritize American workers by raising the cost of hiring foreign labor in specialty occupations.

Court filings from the Department of Homeland Security confirmed the steep drop in filings subject to the fee. Overall H-1B registrations also declined, with eligible submissions for fiscal year 2026 falling to 343,981 from 470,342 the previous year.

The reduction led to lower revenue for USCIS, as the agency collected roughly $28 million less in other fees despite the new payments. Some employers, particularly smaller businesses and nonprofits, reported difficulty sponsoring workers under the higher cost.

A federal judge later struck down the fee in June 2026, ruling the administration exceeded its authority. The Justice Department appealed the decision. Despite the legal challenge, the initial months under the policy demonstrated a significant shift in application volume.

Data indicated the fee affected cap-exempt employers and those filing for workers abroad most directly. Larger technology firms continued some filings through transfers or other channels not subject to the new charge.