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.
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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 ...
It’s only happening because the government hates Americans and wants to replace everyone here with non-whites. Private companies making money off of foreigners is secondary
in age old tradition, leftists will shift to rename the H-1bs into some other visa category
We need to change that. Any change of status should incur the fee. The key is to get them out of the country.
A high-trust society (the US) cannot legislate work permits that are being abused by a low-trust society (India).
They have to go back.
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