DHS Proposes a Permanent $103,265 H-1B Fee That Its Own Analysis Says Would Paralyze 76% of Small Businesses
CNN·high signal
The Trump administration published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on August 24 setting a $103,265 H-1B application fee, replacing a temporary proclamation expiring in September and following a federal judge voiding an earlier $100,000 attempt. A 30-day public comment period is now open before DHS can finalize it. Fortune reports DHS's own impact estimate concedes the fee would paralyze 76% of small businesses, which puts the burden squarely on AI startups rather than the large labs that can absorb six figures per hire.