Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s $100,000 H-1B Filing Fee—For Now
A California federal court issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration’s $100,000 surcharge on new H-1B petitions, citing likely violations of administrative-procedure rules. The ruling—announced in a legal update on October 5—temporarily spares employers from a fee projected to slash skilled-worker hiring, but the government is expected to appeal. Businesses should proceed under the existing fee schedule while reserving funds for possible retroactive payments.
Oct 6, 2026
