If you’ve been following the news lately, the numbers being thrown around for immigration are enough to give any business owner a heart attack. A hundred thousand dollars? Seriously? It sounds like a typo, but in 2026, that’s the reality for many companies trying to bring in talent from overseas. But before the current administration’s "H-1B Proclamation" and the massive $100,000 entry fee shook the industry, things were—well, they weren't exactly cheap, but they were a lot more predictable.
Honestly, looking back at the h1b visa cost before trump (the first time around and definitely before this current 2025/2026 era) feels like reminiscing about $2.00 gas. You didn't love paying it, but you could actually run a business without needing a massive capital injection just to hire a software engineer.
The Good Old Days? Not Quite, but Definitely Cheaper
Back in 2016, the fee structure was basically a puzzle, but it was a puzzle that usually added up to something between $2,000 and $5,000. It depended on how big your company was and how many H-1B workers you already had. You didn't have these staggering "entry fees" that look more like a down payment on a luxury condo.
The core of the expense was the I-129 petition. Back then, that specific filing fee was a flat $460. Just $460! Compare that to the current tiered system where large companies are paying nearly double that just for the base form, and you start to see why immigration lawyers are so busy these days.
But the $460 was just the tip of the iceberg. You had the ACWIA fee (the training fee) and the fraud fee. If you were a big company with more than 25 employees, you coughed up **$1,500** for the ACWIA. Smaller shops got a break and only paid $750. Then there was the mandatory $500 Fraud Prevention and Detection fee.
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Breaking Down the 2016 Receipt
If you were an HR manager at a mid-sized tech firm in late 2016, your check to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security" usually looked something like this:
- Base Filing Fee: $460
- ACWIA (Scholarship/Training): $1,500
- Fraud Fee: $500
- Public Law 114-113 Fee: $4,000 (only if you were a "50/50" company—more on that in a second)
Basically, if you weren't a massive outsourcing firm, you were looking at $2,460 in government fees. That's it. No $100,000 "national interest" gatekeeping. No $600 "Asylum Program Fee" which was tacked on much later. It was straightforward, if a bit annoying.
The 50/50 Rule: The First Real Price Spike
We can't talk about the h1b visa cost before trump without mentioning the 2015/2016 budget deal. President Obama signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016, which actually created a massive spike for certain companies. If your company had more than 50 employees and more than 50% of them were on H-1B or L-1 visas, the government hit you with an extra $4,000.
This was the first time we really saw the government use "fees" as a tool to discourage certain types of hiring. It was specifically aimed at "body shops"—large outsourcing firms that filled their ranks almost exclusively with H-1B workers. For everyone else, though, the cost stayed relatively stable.
Premium Processing: The $1,225 Fast Pass
Remember when you could get a decision in 15 days for about a grand? In 2016, Premium Processing cost exactly $1,225. It was the ultimate "shut up and take my money" button for companies that couldn't wait six months to find out if their new hire was actually allowed to start.
Everything changed in April 2017. Right after the 2016 election, the Trump administration suspended premium processing for months. It was a massive shock to the system. Suddenly, the cost wasn't just about the check you wrote; it was about the "opportunity cost" of waiting half a year for an approval. Today, that same service is over $2,800, and that's if it's even available for your specific category.
Attorney Fees: The Hidden Part of the Iceberg
You can't just mail a check and hope for the best. You need a lawyer. Before 2017, attorney fees for a standard H-1B case typically ran between $2,500 and $5,000.
If you got a "Request for Evidence" (RFE), which was less common back then than it is now, you might pay another $1,500. Most experts, like those at the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP), noted that the total cost—fees plus lawyers—usually topped out around **$10,000 to $12,000** for a single hire.
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In 2026, that sounds like a bargain. With the new fees and the increased legal complexity (because the forms are longer and the scrutiny is way higher), you’re lucky to get out the door for under $15,000, even without the $100,000 entry fee.
Why the $100,000 Fee Changed Everything
When the $100,000 fee was introduced in late 2025, it fundamentally broke the old model. Before Trump's second-term policies, the H-1B was a "specialty occupation" tool. Now, it’s basically a luxury good.
The goal of the $100,000 fee was to ensure that only the most "irreplaceable" workers came over. The logic was: "If they aren't worth $100k, an American can do the job." But for small startups or non-profits, that math just doesn't work. Before 2017, a non-profit university didn't even have to pay the $1,500 ACWIA fee! They were essentially getting a "discounted" rate to bring in researchers and teachers.
Actionable Steps for Today's Employers
The world of 2026 is vastly different from the 2016 era we just looked at. If you are trying to navigate these costs now, you need a different strategy.
1. Audit Your "Entry" Needs
The $100,000 fee often triggers on entry. If your candidate is already in the U.S. (like a student on an F-1 visa), you might be able to avoid the massive entry surcharge by filing for a "Change of Status" rather than having them go through a consulate abroad. Talk to your counsel about the "entry ban" specifics.
2. Leverage the Small Business Exemption
The government still gives slight breaks to companies with 25 or fewer employees. You might save a few hundred dollars on the Asylum fee or the ACWIA fee. It’s small potatoes compared to $100k, but every bit helps.
3. Prepare for RFEs Early
In the old days, an RFE was a rare nuisance. Now, it's a standard part of the process. Have your "Specialty Occupation" arguments ready before you even file. You need to prove the role requires a degree in a specific field, or you’re just throwing your filing fees away.
4. Consider the O-1 or TN Alternatives
If the h1b visa cost before trump was the baseline, and today's cost is the ceiling, look for the middle ground. The TN visa (for Canadians and Mexicans) or the O-1 (for extraordinary ability) doesn't carry the same baggage—or the same $100,000 price tag—as the H-1B.
The landscape has shifted from a "cost of doing business" to a "barrier to entry." Understanding where we came from helps illustrate just how high those walls have become.