DHS proposes new $103,265 fee for H-1B visa petitions
A proposed Department of Homeland Security rule would add a large new fee to most H-1B skilled-worker visa petitions — relevant to anyone in the diaspora on, or applying for, that visa category.
By Eyob Hadgu · 24 August 2026
The Statue of Liberty, New York. Photo: 銀河市長 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The US Department of Homeland Security has proposed a new $103,265 fee for all H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption, according to a DHS announcement carried by USCIS.
The H-1B category is used by skilled workers sponsored by a US employer, including some members of the Eritrean diaspora working or seeking to work in specialized fields. The fee, as proposed, would apply broadly to cap-subject H-1B petitions rather than to any single nationality or group.
This is a proposed rule, not a final one. Proposed DHS rules typically go through a public comment period before taking effect, and the details — including exactly who is affected and when it would start — can change before finalization.
This is information, not legal advice. Anyone with an active or planned H-1B petition should confirm current requirements directly with USCIS or a qualified immigration attorney rather than relying on this summary.
Source: DHS/USCIS announcement, "DHS Proposes Additional H-1B Fee" — https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/dhs-proposes-additional-h-1b-fee
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