Key Implications for Hiring Leaders
Here’s a TL;DR on the new H-1B fee and its impact on your immediate hiring strategy:
- The New Fee is $100,000 for New Petitions: The Trump administration introduced a one-time $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa applications filed on or after September 21, 2025, for individuals outside the U.S..
- Current H-1B Employees are Exempt: The fee does not apply to professionals who already hold an H-1B visa.
- Renewals and Transfers are Unaffected: Hiring a candidate currently working on an H-1B visa (transfers) or extending an existing visa (renewals) will not incur the new $100,000 charge.
- Hiring In-Country is Cost-Effective: U.S. construction and infrastructure firms can continue to hire qualified H-1B talent already in the country under standard, pre-existing fee structures.
The New H-1B Visa Policy
Recent updates to U.S. immigration policy have raised questions across the construction industry about the cost of hiring foreign-born professionals. On September 19, 2025, the Trump administration introduced a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa applications submitted by individuals outside the United States, effective September 21, 2025.
However, this fee does not apply to existing H-1B visa holders or renewals. That means if your company hires an H-1B professional who already lives and works in the U.S., for example, a project engineer, estimator, or superintendent currently employed by another firm, you won’t be responsible for the new $100,000 application cost.
What’s Changing and What’s Not
The new policy targets overseas applications only, as part of a broader shift toward prioritizing higher-paid, higher-skilled visa applicants.
- The $100,000 payment is a one-time fee tied to the submission of a new H-1B petition.
- It is effective for new petitions filed on or after September 21, 2025.
- It does NOT apply to renewals or extensions of H-1B status.
While this could impact firms seeking to sponsor new talent from abroad, it does not affect the thousands of construction professionals already authorized to work in the U.S. on H-1B status.
In practical terms, U.S.-based general contractors and infrastructure firms can continue hiring qualified H-1B candidates already in the country without incurring any new government fees. Transfers and extensions for current visa holders remaining in the U.S. remain under standard processing and cost structures.
Why This Matters for Heavy Civil Construction
Inside Avenue also represents highly skilled construction professionals on H-1B visas,including project managers, estimators, superintendents, and project engineers, who are already authorized to work in the U.S. These individuals play vital roles in delivering transportation, utilities, and infrastructure projects nationwide, particularly at a time when talent shortages are constraining project delivery.
The introduction of the $100,000 H-1B fee has created a significant hurdle for firms seeking to bring in international talent for new hires from outside the country. By clarifying the exemption, we aim to ensure that U.S. contractors don’t mistakenly overlook top talent already in the U.S. due to misconceptions about visa costs. The $100,000 fee applies only to new petitions filed for individuals living outside the country, not to transfers or renewals for those already employed stateside.
Moving Forward
While legal challenges and further rulemaking may follow, employers can act with confidence today:
- Hiring existing H-1B professionals in the U.S. remains cost-effective and fully compliant.
- No additional government fees apply to these hires.
- Strategic access to international expertise continues to give contractors a competitive edge on complex, federally funded infrastructure work.
Inside Avenue continues to monitor immigration policy developments affecting construction hiring and remains committed to connecting firms with the industry’s top H-1B-qualified talent ready to work on U.S. soil. You can monitor official updates through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or the Department of State (DOS).
