H-1B Visa Filings Rise but Approvals Fall Amid Legal Challenges to New Fee

In fiscal year 2025, H-1B visa petition filings in the US rose to 456,725, the highest since 2022, while approvals dropped sharply to 328,185, the lowest in five years. This decline followed President Trump's September 2025 proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on certain H-1B petitions, a measure currently challenged in court. A recent US Supreme Court ruling against presidential tariff authority has bolstered legal arguments that such fees require congressional approval, intensifying ongoing disputes over the fee's legality and impact on employers.