# Trump H-1B Visa Fee Blocked

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/trump-h-1b-visa-fee-blocked
> Updated: 2026-07-30T15:31:55.000Z. Sources: 40. Developments: 2.

In late July 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit refused to grant the Trump administration a stay of a district‑court ruling that struck down a $100,000 supplemental fee on new H‑1B visa petitions. The lower‑court decision, issued by Judge Leo T. Sorokin, held the fee unlawful because Congress had never authorized such a tax. The appellate panel concluded the government was unlikely to succeed on the merits and ordered the fee to remain blocked nationwide.

The administration briefly reinstated the fee while pursuing the stay, but the three‑judge panel’s denial on July 30 confirmed that the fee could not be enforced. The rulings provide immediate relief to employers, universities, research institutions, and Indian IT professionals who rely on the H‑1B program.

Both decisions underscore that the Immigration and Nationality Act provides no authority for the $100,000 charge, and the administration may still appeal the appellate judgment.

## Timeline

### 2026-07-30: U.S. First Circuit Rejects Stay on Trump Administration's $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee

The First Circuit denied the Trump administration’s stay request, upholding a district court ruling that invalidated a $100,000 H‑1B visa fee as an unauthorized tax.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-first-circuit-rejects-stay-on-trump-administrations-100000-h-1b-visa-fee

### 2026-07-24: U.S. Appeals Court Blocks Trump $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee

The 1st U.S. Circuit Court upheld a lower‑court ruling that struck down President Trump’s $100,000 H‑1B visa fee as an unlawful tax, delivering relief to Indian tech workers and U.S. tech firms.

37 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/judge-james-boasberg-blocks-trump-100k-h1b-visa-fee

---
Cite as: Trump H-1B Visa Fee Blocked. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/trump-h-1b-visa-fee-blocked