Hello Everyone!
This is BIG!
$100k H1B fee doesn’t apply for “change of visa status” cases.
Hence, when a student gets a job, one changes from F1 status to H1B status and this fee doesn’t apply!!
This likely means that this change is brilliant for students studying in USA. They will fave much lesser competition in lottery and they don’t have to worry about the $100k H1B fee!https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2025/10/20/immigration-service-issues-guidance-on-who-pays-the-100000-h-1b-fee/Key excerpt from the article:
"The biggest takeaway for employers is that USCIS has clarified that the fee would not apply to a “change of status,” i.e., cases where people change from one category to another without leaving the country, such as moving from F-1 student status to H-1B status."bb, other experts, please pitch-in!
Thanks all
Experts' Global