H-1B visa program

A federal judge has struck down the $100,000 fee imposed on the entry of new H-1B visa holders, invalidating the September 2026 proclamation that renewed the fee. Commenters note that while litigation is likely to continue, the ruling makes it less likely the Trump administration will be permitted to keep the charge in place.

The term refers to the US diversity visa lottery, the program that randomly awards green cards to applicants from countries with low immigration rates, as well as to the annual H-1B visa lottery that skilled workers enter hoping to work in the United States. Discussion on Hacker News, linked to academic research on immigration restrictions and firms, reflects debate about how lotteries affect workers and companies. Posts appear to mix personal anecdotes with policy discussion, though the exact trigger is not clear from the evidence.

A US federal judge has struck down the latest version of the $100,000 fee on H-1B visa petitions, blocking the Trump administration's steep charge on skilled-worker immigration. The ruling affects employers who sponsor foreign professionals, including technology companies that rely heavily on the H-1B program, and marks a significant legal setback for the administration's immigration fees.