H-1B Relief: Second US Judge Blocks $100K Fee

Thousands of Indian professionals and US employers have received a potential reprieve after a second federal judge blocked the Trump administration from enforcing its controversial $100,000 H-1B visa fee. US District Judge Haywood S. Gilliam Jr. ruled that federal agencies likely failed to follow the legally required rulemaking procedures when implementing the policy. The decision temporarily prevents the relevant agencies from enforcing the measures linked to the original September 2025 proclamation and its September 2026 extension while they comply with the required procedures.

The ruling is particularly significant for Indians, who accounted for 71% of approved H-1B petitions in fiscal 2024, according to US immigration data cited in reports. The fee had raised serious concerns among technology companies, healthcare providers, universities and other employers that rely on skilled foreign professionals. The administration has defended its restrictions as a way to protect American workers and curb alleged misuse of the visa programme.

What does this mean for Indian IT professionals, students and H-1B aspirants? The latest order offers relief from the challenged fee, but it does not eliminate other H-1B requirements or guarantee visa approval. The legal battle is also not over, with the government’s appeal against an earlier ruling still pending. For Indians planning to work in the US, the key takeaway is to monitor official USCIS guidance and confirm how the court orders apply to their specific petition before making job or travel decisions.