U.S. Chamber of Commerce Sues Trump Administration Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s largest business lobbying organization representing over 300,000 companies, has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration challenging a new $100,000 fee on H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers. This marks the Chamber’s first legal action against Trump since he began his second term in office.

The lawsuit, filed in a Washington, D.C. federal court, argues that Trump’s September proclamation imposing the steep fee exceeds presidential authority and disrupts the immigration system established by Congress. The H-1B visa program, which enables U.S. companies—especially in technology and engineering sectors—to hire highly skilled foreign professionals, offers 65,000 visas annually, plus 20,000 additional slots for applicants with advanced degrees. Employers typically pay between $2,000 and $5,000 per visa in existing fees.

According to the Chamber, the new $100,000 fee would significantly raise business expenses, forcing many companies to either reduce hiring or abandon the H-1B program entirely. The group warned that such a move could harm investors, customers, and existing employees who depend on innovation and skilled labor.

Trump justified the order under federal immigration law, claiming the measure protects American jobs and prevents “large-scale replacement” of U.S. workers by cheaper foreign labor. However, the Chamber contends that the fee cannot be classified as a restriction on entry since it targets employers rather than visa applicants.

The new rule is also facing legal challenges from unions, employers, and religious organizations in California. Supporters of the H-1B program argue that it helps fill critical labor shortages in specialized industries, while opponents claim it undermines American workers. The White House has not yet responded to the lawsuit.