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F-1 to H-1B Visa Transition: What Trump’s $100,000 fee hike means for international students

US President Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee hike significantly impacts international students transitioning from F-1 visas. While the White House Press Secretary say that existing US visa holders are unaffected, there is ambiguity among the international student community.

F1 to H1B visa transition
F1 to H1B visa transition Credit:Pixabay
| Updated on: Sep 22, 2025 | 07:03 PM

New Delhi: President Donald Trump's recent move to make the $100,000 fee mandatory for H-1B visas from the upcoming lottery cycle has shaken the global job market. This will not only impact the tech industry but also the financial ecosystem. The recent move to hike the H-1B visa fee has sparked widespread panic and fear among working professionals and international students.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that the H-1B visa fee hike “does not impact the ability of any current visa holder to travel to/from the US.” With the White House’s clarification that the new H-1B visa fee rules will not apply to existing visa holders, working professionals have at least one reason to curb their concerns. However, there are many unanswered questions. 

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H-1B Visa Fee Hike: Impact on international students

There has been a lot of confusion in the international student community after President Trump's recent announcement regarding the increase in H-1B visa fees. International students studying in the US are mostly hoping for an H-1B after completing their education. After clarification from the White House and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, foreign students, including Indians on F-1 OPT visas, may finally be able to ease the pressure.

The USCIS memorandum titled "Restriction of Entry of Certain Non-Immigrant Workers" reads, "the proclamation does not impact the ability of any current visa holder to travel to or from the United States."

After a press briefing by White House Press Secretary Carolyn Leavitt, it was made clear that the new visa fee hike rule would only apply to new applicants. H-1B holders or renewals, or holders of any US visa, including the F-1 visa, were exempt from paying the $100,000 fee.

F-1 to H-1B visa transition

  • The first and foremost task for any international student to convert F-1 visa to H-1B visa is to find a sponsor. One should secure a job offer from the US company. For this, one must also have a valid bachelor's degree.
  • Candidates need to get familiar with the registration and selection for H-1B visa. Usually, employers register candidates for an annual H-1B lotter in March.
  • After getting selected, candidates start the petition process. The employer also agrees to pay the wage for both the occupation and location by filing a Labor Condition Application (LCA) with the Department of Labor.
  • Post LCA approval, the employer files Form I-129 and Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker with USCIS. Here, the employer also requests to change the status of the F-1 to an H-1B visa.
  • If a candidate's F-1 status expires before their H-1B, they are eligible for the cap gap extension. Once approved, the transition to H-1B status is successful.
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