H-1B $100,000 Fee Lawsuit Tracker: Where Things Stand (Updated October 15, 2026)
⚠️ Disclaimer: For general information only — not tax, financial, legal, or medical advice. Figures may be outdated or incorrect; tax rules change frequently. Verify important decisions with the CRA/IRS or a qualified professional (for health topics, a licensed healthcare provider). You use this information at your own risk.
The short answer
The $100,000 H-1B fee has been announced, blocked, extended, blocked again, and appealed — all within about a year. Employers and H-1B workers keep asking the same question: do we have to pay it right now? As of October 15, 2026, the answer is no — two federal court orders bar the government from collecting it. But the fight is far from over. This tracker lays out the timeline, the current status, and what to watch next. This is a developing story; check USCIS for the latest.
The timeline so far
- September 2025 — the proclamation. Presidential Proclamation 10973 imposed a $100,000 fee on certain new H-1B petitions. Employers filing new cap-subject H-1B petitions suddenly faced a fee roughly 13 to 50 times the normal filing costs (standard H-1B fees previously ranged from about $2,000 to $7,595). Court filings later showed only 85 payments were ever processed under the policy.
- June 8, 2026 — first court loss. A Massachusetts federal court (Judge Sorokin) vacated the fee policy in its entirety, ruling the administration lacked statutory authority to impose what the court called a $100,000 tax on H-1B petitions without Congress's delegation. The court found the agencies had bypassed required rulemaking.
- July 24, 2026 — stay denied. The First Circuit denied the government's request to pause the Massachusetts ruling while it appeals, so the fee stayed unenforceable.
- September 18, 2026 — the extension. The White House issued Proclamation 11069, extending the $100,000 fee policy through September 21, 2027 — signaling the administration intends to keep defending it even while blocked.
- September 30, 2026 — second court loss. Judge Haywood Gilliam Jr. of the Northern District of California issued a preliminary injunction in Global Nurse Force v. Trump, blocking USCIS and CBP from implementing the fee under both the 2025 proclamation and the 2026 extension, until the agencies complete notice-and-comment rulemaking. The court found the plaintiffs likely to succeed on claims that the agencies violated the Administrative Procedure Act — failing to consider alternatives and reliance interests, and skipping the regulatory-flexibility analysis for small businesses. The court also denied the government's request to stay the ruling pending appeal.
- October 9, 2026 — the appeal. The government filed its notice of appeal to the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and asked for a stay, pointing to similar challenges pending in the First and D.C. Circuits. The administration expects the dispute to eventually reach the Supreme Court.
- October 27, 2026 — case conference scheduled. The next procedural milestone in the California case.
What is blocked, and what is not
This is where confusion is most costly, so here it is plainly:
- Blocked: the $100,000 fee imposed by presidential proclamation (both the 2025 original and the 2026 extension). Two court orders — Massachusetts (vacatur) and California (preliminary injunction) — bar USCIS and CBP from collecting it. Employers are not currently required to pay it.
- Not blocked, but not in effect either: the separate $103,265 fee DHS proposed in August 2026 through formal rulemaking. This is a different legal animal — it comes from DHS's statutory fee-setting authority rather than presidential proclamation power, and it applies only to cap-subject H-1B petitions. It is only a proposal; it is not final and not in effect. The current court orders do not cover it.
- The appeal changes nothing yet. The government's October 9 appeal to the Ninth Circuit does not lift the injunctions by itself. The fee stays blocked unless an appeals court grants a stay or the government wins on the merits.
Could the fee come back?
Yes. If the Ninth Circuit (or the First Circuit, or eventually the Supreme Court) grants a stay or rules for the government, the $100,000 fee could spring back to life — and USCIS has said DHS intends to collect it if the blocking orders are lifted. Separately, the $103,265 rulemaking could become final through the normal process, which the current litigation would not stop.
What employers should do now
- Do not pay the $100,000 fee on new petitions while the orders stand — but confirm with immigration counsel before each filing, because the status can change with a single court order.
- Budget for uncertainty. Model H-1B costs under three scenarios: current fees only, $100,000 proclamation fee restored, and $103,265 rulemaking finalized. Finance teams hate surprises more than high costs.
- Document filing dates. Whether a petition was filed while the fee was blocked may matter if the legal status flips.
- Watch the dockets, not the headlines. The dispositive events will be: the Ninth Circuit's decision on the stay request, the October 27 case conference, and any final rule on the $103,265 fee. Your immigration attorney should be tracking all three.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay the $100,000 H-1B fee right now?
No. As of October 15, 2026, two federal court orders bar the government from collecting it. Confirm with your employer's immigration attorney before each filing, as court orders can change.
Does the government's appeal mean the fee is back?
No. The October 9, 2026 appeal to the Ninth Circuit does not by itself lift the injunctions. The fee remains blocked unless a court grants a stay or rules for the government.
What is the $103,265 H-1B fee I keep hearing about?
A separate DHS proposal from August 2026, done through formal rulemaking, applying only to new cap-subject H-1B petitions. It is not final, not in effect, and not covered by the current court orders.
Did the September 2026 extension bring the fee back?
No. Proclamation 11069 extended the policy through September 21, 2027, but the September 30 California injunction covers implementation under both the original proclamation and the extension.
What happens if the government wins on appeal?
USCIS has said DHS intends to collect the $100,000 payment if the blocking orders are lifted. Employers with pending or planned petitions could face the fee with little warning.
Sources
- VisaVerge, Trump Administration Appeals Second Court Loss on $100,000 H-1B Fee: https://www.visaverge.com/h1b/trump-administration-appeals-second-court-loss-100000-h-1b-fee/
- JD Supra, Federal Court Blocks Implementation of $100,000 H-1B Fee: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/federal-court-blocks-implementation-of-6069769/
- Duane Morris Immigration Law, H-1B — $100,000 Proclamation Fee vs. $103,265 Proposed Rule: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/immigrationlaw/tag/h-1-b/
This article is general information about ongoing US litigation, not legal advice, and reflects the status as of October 15, 2026 — court orders can change quickly. H-1B filing strategy is fact-specific; consult a licensed US immigration attorney before acting.
← Previous
How long is the EB-5 backlog now — are rural projects really "current"?
Next →
My change-of-status to H-1B is pending — what happens if I fly out of the US before it's approved?
('Disclaimer — please read. This article is for general information and educational purposes only. It is not tax, accounting, legal, financial, immigration, medical, dental, or health advice, and reading it does not create a professional or client relationship between you and Llandora. Tax and immigration rules change frequently and differ by country, province/state, and personal circumstances; figures, thresholds, and examples in this article may be outdated, incomplete, or incorrect, and may not apply to your situation. Always verify current rules with the official sources (CRA, IRS, IRCC, USCIS) and consult a licensed professional before making any decision. Content about health, medical, or dental topics is general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment — always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions about a medical condition. Llandora makes no warranty of any kind — express or implied — about the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or timeliness of this content. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Llandora disclaims all liability for any loss, damage, cost, or expense arising from errors or omissions in this article or from any action taken or not taken in reliance on it, whether direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential. You rely on this article entirely at your own risk.', 'Disclaimer — please read. This article is for general information and educational purposes only. It is not tax, accounting, legal, financial, immigration, medical, dental, or health advice, and reading it does not create a professional or client relationship between you and Llandora. Tax and immigration rules change frequently and differ by country, province/state, and personal circumstances; figures, thresholds, and examples in this article may be outdated, incomplete, or incorrect, and may not apply to your situation. Always verify current rules with the official sources (CRA, IRS, IRCC, USCIS) and consult a licensed professional before making any decision. Content about health, medical, or dental topics is general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment — always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions about a medical condition. Llandora makes no warranty of any kind — express or implied — about the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or timeliness of this content. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Llandora disclaims all liability for any loss, damage, cost, or expense arising from errors or omissions in this article or from any action taken or not taken in reliance on it, whether direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential. You rely on this article entirely at your own risk.', "Avertissement — à lire attentivement. Cet article est fourni à titre informatif et pédagogique uniquement. Il ne constitue pas un conseil fiscal, comptable, juridique, financier, en immigration, médical, dentaire ou en santé, et sa lecture ne crée aucune relation professionnelle ou client entre vous et Llandora. Les règles fiscales et d'immigration changent fréquemment et varient selon le pays, la province/l'État et la situation personnelle ; les chiffres, seuils et exemples de cet article peuvent être obsolètes, incomplets ou inexacts, et peuvent ne pas s'appliquer à votre situation. Vérifiez toujours les règles en vigueur auprès des sources officielles (CRA, IRS, IRCC, USCIS) et consultez un professionnel agréé avant de prendre toute décision. Les contenus relatifs à la santé, à la médecine ou aux soins dentaires sont fournis à titre informatif uniquement et ne remplacent pas un avis médical professionnel, un diagnostic ou un traitement — consultez toujours un professionnel de la santé qualifié pour toute question d'ordre médical. Llandora n'offre aucune garantie, expresse ou implicite, quant à l'exactitude, l'exhaustivité, la fiabilité ou l'actualité de ce contenu. Dans toute la mesure permise par la loi, Llandora décline toute responsabilité pour toute perte, tout dommage, tout coût ou toute dépense découlant d'erreurs ou d'omissions dans cet article ou de toute action entreprise ou non entreprise sur la foi de son contenu, qu'ils soient directs, indirects, accessoires ou consécutifs. Vous vous fiez à cet article entièrement à vos propres risques.", 'Aviso legal — léalo con atención. Este artículo es solo para fines informativos y educativos. No constituye asesoramiento fiscal, contable, legal, financiero, migratorio, médico, dental ni de salud, y su lectura no crea una relación profesional o de cliente entre usted y Llandora. Las reglas fiscales y migratorias cambian con frecuencia y varían según el país, la provincia/estado y las circunstancias personales; las cifras, umbrales y ejemplos de este artículo pueden estar desactualizados, incompletos o ser incorrectos, y pueden no aplicarse a su situación. Verifique siempre las reglas vigentes con las fuentes oficiales (CRA, IRS, IRCC, USCIS) y consulte a un profesional autorizado antes de tomar cualquier decisión. El contenido sobre temas de salud, médicos o dentales es solo información general y no sustituye el consejo, diagnóstico o tratamiento médico profesional: consulte siempre a un profesional de la salud calificado ante cualquier duda médica. Llandora no ofrece ninguna garantía, expresa o implícita, sobre la exactitud, integridad, fiabilidad u oportunidad de este contenido. En la máxima medida permitida por la ley, Llandora rechaza toda responsabilidad por cualquier pérdida, daño, costo o gasto derivado de errores u omisiones en este artículo o de cualquier acción realizada o no realizada basándose en él, ya sean directos, indirectos, incidentales o consecuentes. Usted confía en este artículo enteramente bajo su propio riesgo.')