White House Renews H-1B Fees, Adds Sponsor Layoff Reviews

The White House issued an Executive Order (EO) Sept. 18 directing interagency coordination in the H-1B visa program and increased scrutiny of sponsoring employers that recently laid off, or plan to lay off, similarly situated U.S. workers. The administration also issued a proclamation extending for another year the $100,000 fee requirement for certain H-1B workers seeking entry into the country.

The EO directs the secretaries of the U.S. Departments of State, Labor and Homeland Security to consult with the secretaries of Commerce and Education, as well as the administrator of the Small Business Administration, when reviewing H-1B labor condition applications, petitions and visas. The EO directs the Department of Labor to review previously submitted labor condition applications to determine whether additional enforcement actions against sponsoring employers may be warranted.

For more information or if you have questions, contact Michael Peters, ACR Senior Director, Government Affairs.