The U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Thursday filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s $100,000 fee on H-1B visa petitions, arguing the fee is illegal.
The Chamber argues that the fee illegally overrides provisions within the Immigration and Nationality Act that govern the H-1B visa program, including the requirement that fees be based on the costs incurred by the government in processing applications.
“The new $100,000 visa fee will make it cost-prohibitive for U.S. employers, especially start-up and small and midsize businesses, to utilize the H-1B program, which was created by Congress expressly to ensure that American businesses of all sizes can access the global talent they need to grow their operations here in the U.S.,” Neil Bradley, executive VP and chief policy officer at the U.S. Chamber, said in a statement.
Bradley noted that the Chamber is supportive of many aspects of the Trump administration’s economic agenda, including its work on “securing permanent pro-growth tax reforms, unleashing American energy, and unraveling the overregulation that has stifled growth.”
He also expressed appreciation for the administration’s efforts on securing the border, which he said has created a “one-in-a-generation opportunity to accomplish targeted legal immigration reforms, and we stand ready to work with Congress and the administration to make that happen.”
“That includes working together on common-sense reforms to improve the visa process for skilled workers,” Bradley continued. “The president has said he wants to educate, attract, and retain the world’s best and brightest in the U.S., and the Chamber shares that goal.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
