1968 Wharton graduate and President Donald Trump announced a proclamation to impose a $100,000 fee for visas granted to skilled foreign workers.
Credit: Borna Saeednia
On Saturday, Penn’s International Scholar and Student Services addressed a recent federal order mandating annual charges on H-1B visa petitions — the latest in a series of restrictive immigration policies from the White House.
The Sept. 19 proclamation — titled “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers” — imposed a $100,000 annual fee on new and renewal H-1B visa petitions, which are granted to foreign workers in speciality occupations. The fees, which extend to members of the Penn community, come amid a string of new immigration guidelines, including thorough social media vetting, visa revocations, and processing delays.
Penn has commonly used the term “speciality occupations” while describing visas for faculty members and researchers. In a Sept. 20 message shared on Instagram, ISSS “strongly” encouraged employees on H-1B visas to “avoid traveling outside the country until the situation stabilizes.”
“The proclamation is part of a broader set of changes / proposals by the administration to restrict or reshape temporary worker immigration programs,” ISSS wrote in the post. “It’s framed as responding to perceived misuse of high-skill work visas.”
Although current employees with valid H-1B statuses can continue working and traveling, employers — including Penn — have advised workers to remain in the United States.
Joseph Edlow, the director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, clarified in a Saturday memorandum that the fees will only apply to petitions filed on or after Sept. 21.
“The proclamation does not impact the ability of any current visa holder to travel to or from the United States,” Edlow wrote.
H-1B visas are valid for three years after being issued. The fee will be required each year, bringing the total cost of each visa to $300,000.
In a separate order mentioned by ISSS, Trump’s administration also promised to fast-track visas for foreigners who pay a $1-million fee or companies who pay $2 million.
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The orders come amid a series of changes to immigration policies, including a plan to conduct more rigorous reviews of students from China and Hong Kong.
In a statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian regarding the changes, ISSS Executive Director Rodolfo Altamirano wrote that the office will continue to support the “academic, practical, and regulatory” needs of Penn students and faculty.
“While federal guidance and regulations regarding international students can change, our priority remains ensuring that students receive accurate, timely information and support,” Altamirano added. “ISSS works closely with students, faculty, and staff to provide guidance on visa requirements, travel considerations, and other practical matters.”
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