The essentials
Second federal judge blocks Trump's H-1B visa fee as legal challenges mount.
Federal Judge Haywood Gilliam blocked the $100,000 H-1B visa fee in Oakland, California, marking the second judicial challenge to the policy. An earlier ruling from a federal judge in Boston, Massachusetts had similarly blocked the fee in June.
The US Chamber of Commerce filed a third lawsuit challenging the visa fee, continuing legal efforts against the administration's policy. The fee represents a significant increase to visa processing costs and has faced sustained opposition through multiple legal channels.
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Multiple courts reject H-1B fee within months of implementation
A federal judge in Boston first blocked the $100,000 H-1B visa fee in June. Federal Judge Haywood Gilliam subsequently issued a second blocking order in Oakland, California. The US Chamber of Commerce pursued a third legal challenge, demonstrating escalating judicial and organizational opposition to the policy across different jurisdictions.
Business groups and courts align in opposing visa fee expansion
The US Chamber of Commerce filed a third lawsuit challenging the H-1B fee, representing organized business sector opposition. Two separate federal judges—in Boston and Oakland—issued blocking orders against the policy. This pattern reflects coordinated legal resistance spanning both courts and major business advocacy organizations.