Kathmandu. President Donald Trump’s H-10 visa threat has once again increased in America’s tech companies. The US federal judge’s ruling is expected to provide relief to Trump and worsen the crisis for tech firms.
The judge said the Trump administration could move forward with imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications. The decision dealt a direct blow to U.S. tech companies and other employers that rely heavily on foreign workers.
What did the judge say in Trump’s favor?
This decision of the US judge strengthens Trump’s immigration agenda. The decision comes at a time when the administration is also taking steps to reform the H-1B lottery system in favor of high-paid workers.
U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell ruled that President Trump acted within his legal jurisdiction by ordering a significant increase in the cost of the popular visa program. The decision reflects a broader effort to employ U.S. workers. The ruling allows the Trump administration to impose a $1 million fee while legal challenges continue.
Major changes to the H-1B visa rules
Judge Howell explicitly rejected the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s argument that Trump does not have the power to impose such a visa fee. He said Congress has given the president broad authority to address issues that he considers economic and national security concerns.
The new H-1B visa rules are set to take effect on February 27, 2026. After the $100,000 visa fee increase, the Trump administration has made several other major changes. The Trump administration has scrapped the long-standing lottery system of the H-1B visa program and replaced it with a new model.
The H-1B visa programme allows employers to employ foreign workers in specialized fields such as technology, engineering and healthcare. It currently grants 65,000 visas annually. An additional 20,000 visas are available for workers with advanced degrees.
Until now, the associated fees typically ranged from around $2,000 to $5,000. Which has now increased to $ 1 million.
