Washington, October 24 (Udaipur Kiran): The White House has once again reiterated that President Donald Trump’s H-1B visa reform policy is aimed primarily at ensuring job priority for American citizens. The administration also confirmed that it will strongly defend the policy in court against multiple lawsuits challenging the new rules.
White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt stated, “The President’s top priority has always been putting American workers first. The administration will fight these lawsuits in court. We are well aware that the H-1B visa system has long been plagued by fraud and wage suppression. That’s why the President introduced these reforms — they are legal, necessary, and we will continue this fight.”
The clarification comes after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a new guideline requiring a $100,000 application fee for H-1B visa filings, with certain exemptions. For instance, students shifting from F-1 to H-1B visas will be exempt from the heavy fee. Similarly, individuals applying for visa extensions or status changes within the U.S. will not have to pay the new fee.
The White House also clarified that current H-1B visa holders will not face any travel restrictions. The new directive applies only to first-time applicants outside the U.S. who do not already hold a valid H-1B visa. The revised process includes a digital payment option for easier application submission.
Last week, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the country’s largest business organization, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, calling the new rule “unlawful” and warning it could hurt American businesses. The Chamber argued that such a steep application fee would force companies either to raise salaries significantly or cut back on hiring skilled foreign professionals.
Previously, several labor unions, educational institutions, and advocacy groups had also sued the administration in October, challenging the legality of the new visa policy. In September, while signing the order, President Trump had emphasized, “Our goal is to encourage American companies to hire American workers first.”
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.