Posted on 10/21/2025 5:00:03 AM PDT by marcusmaximus
In what could be a big relief for existing US visa holders, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) clarified in a fresh guideline Monday that existing visa holders will not have to pay the newly announced $100,000 fee for a "change of status" to H-1B visa.
The new USCIS guidelines said existing visa holders, which include international students on F-1 visas and professionals on L-1 visas, will not have to pay $100,000 when they apply for a change of status to H-1B. Existing H-1B visa holders are also exempted from this fee while renewing their H-1B status, the USCIS said.
-snip-
In Monday's guidelines, they have been addressed in detail in a section titled, 'Who Is Subject To The $100,000 Fee.' It says the proclamation “does not apply to any previously issued and currently valid H-1B visas, or any petitions submitted prior to 12:01 a.m. ET on September 21, 2025.” Additionally, the new guidelines said that the proclamation "does not prevent any holder of a current H-1B visa, or any alien beneficiary following petition approval, from traveling in and out of the United States."
What USCIS States For F-1 and L-1 Visa Holders
The USCIS's guidelines clarified that existing foreign nationals on F-1 or L-1 visas who have applied or will apply for a change of status to H-1B visa will not have to pay the $100,000 fee.
(Excerpt) Read more at hindustantimes.com ...
Guess our unemployment rate is 0 and we have no skilled workers.
Condider this source, too...
And that William Blake quote applies here, too...
“A truth that’s told with bad intent, Beats all the lies you can invent.”
Where is Gump when you need him?
Still training your AI, I see.
Does it talk to you?
You’re late. Did you miss the short bus?
Yeah, I saw you made it, though... 😉😂😂
India hoes happy.
This sounds like a huge workaround. H-1B folks will just come in under the other two visa types and then switch so there’s no fee.
Needs to be zero Indians and removing the ones already here. The fee is a good start but the government needs to do more to remove the demonic menace of Indian colonizers
Let’s hope not.
This is why all work visas need to be ended andnot “reformed”. You can’t reform evil policies.
There’s a big pipeline of these candidates out there.
You’re right but I tend to go with slowly doing away with it over a few years so business and colleges have time to adapt. Like cut it by 25% every year so after four years it’s all done
Yep, we can always hope.
Good luck with that. The L1 visas are for current employees of international companies that have offices/facilities in the US. They are either managers or have high tech skills. The F1 visas are for international students and they pay the highest tuition rates.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.