MIT could pay over $10 million for H-1B visa sponsorships under new Trump order
The presidential proclamation requires a $100,000 H-1B visa fee
Vivian Hir–The Tech
On Friday, Sept. 19, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation stating that new H-1B visa petitions submitted on Sept. 21 or after will require a $100,000 payment. This change would cause MIT to pay over $10 million every year for H-1B visa sponsorships. In the proclamation, Trump claimed that the H-1B visa program harms wages and employment rates, especially for IT roles. This recent change does not apply to previously issued H-1B visas or petitions submitted before Sept. 21. Previously, the average H-1B visa fee for companies ranged from a few thousand dollars to $10,000, including legal fees and administrative costs.
Founded under the Immigration Act of 1990, the H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire highly educated foreign professionals in specialty occupations, particularly the technology and professional services industries. Holders are admitted for a three-year period, which can be extended to at most six years. In the 2024 fiscal year, the government issued nearly 400,000 H-1B visas, a majority of which were to renew employment (65%).
Although the majority of H-1B workers hold a computer-related job (65% in 2023), many universities in the U.S. issue H-1B visas for other international employees, including postdoctoral scholars, researchers, and professors. According to Director of Media Relations Kimberly Allen, MIT submitted 118, 102, and 103 new H1-B visa petitions in 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. The Tech estimates that under the new order, if MIT plans to sponsor more than 100 H-1B visas each year, its fees would amount to over $10 million. Allen answered on behalf of the International Scholars Office (ISchO) for The Tech’s request for comment.
The ISchO has already reached out to community members potentially affected by the presidential proclamation. Initially, the ISchO recommended that H-1B workers outside the U.S. immediately return to the U.S. by Sept. 20 before the proclamation goes into effect. This announcement was later followed by an update by the Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services on Sept. 21 clarifying that the proclamation does not prevent current H-1B visa holders from traveling to or from the U.S.
“The Institute and the International Scholars Office are committed to informing and supporting international scholars and their families throughout their stays,” Allen wrote.
Clarifying note on October 3, 2025: The fees amounting to $100 million is an estimate by The Tech. The impact of the Presidential Proclamation is being analyzed by ISchO and the administration.