Summary of New H-1B Visa Policy and Its Impact on International Students!!!

On September 19, 2025, a presidential proclamation introduced a significant change to the H-1B visa program titled “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers,” requiring a $100,000 fee for all new H-1B petitions filed for workers outside the United States. This fee does not apply to existing H-1B holders, renewals, or individuals already in the U.S. seeking a change of status. The policy is effective for 12 months, with the possibility of extension, and includes limited exemptions if deemed in the national interest by the Department of Homeland Security.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          For international students, this policy carries important implications. Students completing their degrees in the U.S. and applying for H-1B status through a change of status (while remaining inside the country) are largely unaffected by the new fee. However, those who leave the U.S. and later seek to reenter on a new H-1B visa may trigger the $100,000 requirement for their employer. Similarly, students currently abroad who wish to work in the U.S. under an H-1B after graduation may find employers less willing to sponsor them due to the steep additional cost.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The policy may lead employers to prioritize candidates already present in the U.S. on F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM OPT, since changing their status to H-1B does not incur the new fee. In contrast, international graduates who plan to secure H-1B sponsorship from abroad face higher barriers. While the measure does not limit the number of H-1B visas available, the financial burden could reduce the willingness of some companies to hire international students requiring new petitions.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Note that international students inside the U.S. retain viable pathways to H-1B sponsorship, but those outside the country or needing reentry may face new challenges as employers weigh the substantial cost of compliance.