<h1>H-1B fee hike to $100,000 pushes employers to seek administrative, negotiated, or legal responses to protect skilled-worker access</h1> The government is coordinating with the domestic IT sector and the foreign administration after a proclamation sharply raised annual H-1B application fees to USD 100,000, a change that materially alters the cost structure for employers who rely on specialty-occupation visas. Authorities and industry associations are exploring negotiated, administrative or legal responses to mitigate commercial disruption and protect access for skilled workers, noting significant engagement by large technology and services employers who are major visa beneficiaries. The situation may prompt policy discussions, regulatory challenges, and contractual and immigration-compliance adjustments by affected companies.