The Trump administration is executing a broad tightening of U.S. visa policy on three fronts: suspending all immigrant visa interviews globally for staff training, planning to revoke up to 200,000 B-1/B-2 visas held by asylum seekers, and proposing a $103,265 fee increase for H-1B visas. Together, these moves reshape how practitioners advise clients on green card processing, entry strategy, and employment-based hiring.
What changed
The Trump administration has temporarily paused immigrant visa appointments worldwide, saying it needs time to train all consular staff on screening applicants who might become dependent on public benefits. The department launched the global training initiative in early August, and immigrant visa applicants with interviews already scheduled have reportedly received notices that their appointments are being rescheduled, with new dates to be provided later. The State Department has not said when normal appointment scheduling will resume.
In parallel, the State Department is examining possible revocation of up to 200,000 visitor visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to individuals who have applied for asylum in the US. The move would not automatically result in deportation but could change the immigration status of affected individuals while removing their existing business or tourism visa privileges.
Additionally, the US Department of Homeland Security has separately proposed an additional USD 103,265 fee for H-1B cap-subject applications, including those filed under the advanced degree exemption. The proposed fee change is expected to move forward after a 30-day period during which the public can submit comments.
Why it matters
Consular processing delays. The change affects people applying for immigrant visas from outside the United States, including many family- and employment-based green card applicants going through consular processing. If you have clients with scheduled interviews, expect cancellations and indefinite rescheduling. Applicants have already made costly arrangements before receiving cancellation notices, including spending thousands of dollars and disrupting their lives to attend scheduled interviews, only to have their appointments cancelled at the last minute.
Asylum-entry vulnerabilities. Practitioners advising asylum seekers on entry strategy must now account for the risk that a B-1/B-2 visa can be revoked retroactively. This affects the risk-benefit calculation of using a visitor visa versus a parole or TPS/TDP entry, and heightens the stakes of past entry decisions by asylum applicants already in the U.S. The revocation plan targets those who entered on a B visa and later filed an asylum claim—a common trajectory.
H-1B cost explosion. The proposal, if implemented, could increase costs for companies hiring foreign workers, including Indian technology professionals who form a significant share of H-1B beneficiaries. A $103,265 add-on fee (on top of existing H-1B fees) fundamentally changes the ROI calculation for sponsoring skilled workers and may shift client hiring strategy toward EB-sponsored employment-based green cards or away from foreign recruitment entirely.
Way forward
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For consular clients: Immediately contact any client with a scheduled immigrant visa interview. Confirm cancellation status, document all expenses incurred, and advise on the timeline and uncertainty ahead. Monitor embassy/consulate communications closely.
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For asylum-entry strategists: Review current caseload for clients who entered on B-1/B-2 visas and later applied for asylum. Assess exposure under the proposed revocation plan. For clients contemplating entry method, shift advisory away from B visa paths where feasible.
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For H-1B filers: Monitor the 30-day Federal Register comment period closely. The proposed $103,265 fee, if finalized, will take effect and should be factored into all future H-1B filing decisions and ROI analyses. Consider whether clients may pivot to EB-sponsored green cards to avoid the spike.
Disclaimer
This article is written by Fola Editorial, a software and editorial company, not a law firm. Nothing herein constitutes legal advice. Immigration policy can change without notice, and enforcement priorities shift rapidly. Verify all information against the primary source and consult a licensed immigration attorney before advising clients or taking action based on these announcements.