The Trump administration has clarified that the newly announced $100,000 H-1B visa fee will be a one-time charge per petition and will not affect existing visa holders. The clarification came after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s earlier remarks sparked concern by suggesting the fee could be annual and apply to renewals as well. Major tech firms, including Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Google, had advised H-1B employees to limit travel amid the confusion. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the rule applies only to first-time applicants, emphasizing, “This is not an annual fee—it’s a one-time petition charge.”