New Presidential Proclamation Imposes $100,000 H-1B Fee; ImmigrationExam.us Urges evaluation of Timing and Alternatives

Sudden fee targets new H-1B entrants — after 12:01 a.m. ET on Sept. 21, 2025. Timing and choice of status can significantly affect exposure to the fee.

ST. LOUIS, MO, UNITED STATES, September 25, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- A presidential proclamation requires a $100,000 payment with any new H-1B³ petition filed on or after 12:01 a.m. Eastern on September 21, 2025. 

The proclamation does not apply to H-1B petitions that were filed before the effective time, to already-approved petitions, or to individuals holding valid H-1B visas issued prior to that time. 

Form I-693¹, the immigration² medical exam form, remains an important and time-sensitive document for many adjustment-of-status filings. USCIS has clear rules on which edition of the I-693 is accepted and on how long a signed form retains evidentiary value. Proper timing for the medical exam can matter for concurrent filings. 

For holders of current H-1B authorizations who face renewal or who are considering a new petition, several alternative approaches are commonly reviewed by immigration counsel. These alternatives can, depending on facts and timing, affect whether a new H-1B petition (and the associated fee) would be required:

• Cap-exempt employment with qualifying schools, nonprofit research entities, or affiliated institutions. 
• Transfer or extension of an existing H-1B where the beneficiary was previously counted against the H-1B cap. 
• Other nonimmigrant classifications such as L-1 (intra-company transfer), O-1 (extraordinary ability), or TN (for eligible Canadian and Mexican nationals), when eligible. 
• Employer-sponsored immigrant petition or consular processing strategies that change the timing or need for a new H-1B filing. 

“This proclamation changes the filing landscape for new H-1B petitions while preserving prior approvals and valid H-1B visas from the immediate charge,” said Dr. Gurpreet Padda, medical director and spokesperson for ImmigrationExam.us. “Careful coordination of medical exams, form editions, and filing sequence with immigration counsel and civil-surgeon providers can reduce the chance that a case becomes subject to the new fee.”

ImmigrationExam.us provides USCIS-approved I-693 medical examinations in St. Louis and posts current service information and scheduling options online. Information about medical-exam appointments and required documentation is available at www.immigrationexam.us. Professional legal advice should be sought for case-specific decisions about visa class changes or fee exposure. 

Gurpreet Singh Padda
Immigrationexam.us
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¹ http://immigrationexam.us
² http://immigrationexam.us
³ http://immigrationexam.us