Fact check
AI analysis“Tech giants have urged Trump to withdraw the $103,265 H‑1B fee.”
Reasoning
Both the original joint letter from major tech firms and a Reuters report document that Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and others sent a letter to President Trump urging him to withdraw a proposed $103,265 H‑1B fee. These sources are independent and directly support the claim of urging.
On confidence: Multiple primary and reputable secondary sources directly confirm the lobbying action.
Important context
The $103,265 fee itself is not an actual proposed fee; official USCIS and Department of Labor statements, as well as a Wall Street Journal fact‑check, indicate no such fee exists. The claim concerns the lobbying effort, not the legitimacy of the fee.
Evidence
Supporting (2)
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceindependent originLetter to President Donald J. Trump urging withdrawal of proposed $103,265 H‑1B fee
We respectfully request that your administration withdraw the proposed $103,265 fee for H‑1B petitions, which would severely harm our ability to attract global talent.
- Tier 2 — Independent reportingindependent originTech giants lobby Trump to scrap $103,265 H‑1B fee
Companies including Google, Microsoft and Amazon sent a joint letter to the White House urging President Trump to abandon the $103,265 fee proposal for H‑1B visas.
Contradicting (3)
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceindependent originUSCIS Filing Fees – Form I‑129 (H‑1B)
The filing fee for Form I‑129 (H‑1B) is $1,710 as of the 2026 fee schedule.
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceindependent originDepartment of Labor Press Release – No Proposed $103,265 H‑1B Fee Increase
The Department has not proposed any increase to the H‑1B fee beyond the current $1,710; rumors of a $103,265 fee are unfounded.
- Tier 2 — Independent reportingindependent originFact‑Check: No $103,000 H‑1B Fee in the Works
The claim that the administration is considering a $103,265 fee for H‑1B visas is unfounded; the current fee remains $1,710.
Limitations
Assessment relies on the supplied documents; no additional external verification was performed beyond the provided evidence.
- Last verified:
- Sep 26, 2026, 5:10 PM CDT
- Pipeline:
- 0.1.0
- Claim type:
- Factual
Where this claim appeared
The Download: a bid to scrap the virtual wall and AI hits Climate WeekMIT Technology Review