Here’s What We Learned

This week’s immigration update caught a lot of people off guard.

President Trump announced a $100,000 annual fee tied to H-1B visa petitions.

We’ve been digging into what this actually means. Here’s what I learned 👇

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1. The Fee

• The $100,000 H-1B fee is NOT annual — it’s a one-time petition fee.
• Current H-1B holders are not affected. If you already have an H-1B, you can travel in and out of the U.S. as before without paying this fee.
• The fee applies only to new visas (not renewals, not existing holders).
• It will first take effect in the next upcoming H-1B lottery cycle.
• Takes effect September 21, 2025.
• This is a huge jump from the previous few hundred dollars.
  

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2. Who It Impacts

• New applicants: Yes, you’ll face the fee.
  
• Existing H-1B holders / renewals: White House has clarified you’re exempt.
  
• Exemptions: Possible carveouts for healthcare and other shortage sectors, but details are murky.
  
• Current H-1B holders with rental properties:
  
  Owning rental property is allowed. Actively managing (tenant placement, repairs, etc.) may be treated as “work,” which is risky without separate work authorization. To stay compliant, most H-1B holders hire a property manager. Alternatively, they keep their role purely passive by collecting income and making high-level investment decisions. To be clear, this is the existing law, no new changes here. We have included here given the number of questions we received.
  

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3. Why It Happened

• Official reason: reduce “abuse” of the system by outsourcing firms.
  
• Real outcome: makes H-1B far more expensive for both workers and employers.
  
• It’s part of a bigger overhaul, including new “Gold Card” visas for the ultra-wealthy.
  

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4. What’s Unclear

• Whether the fee is per petition or truly annual for each visa holder.
  
• How exemptions will be applied.
  
• Whether lawsuits will delay or change implementation.
  

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5. What It Means for Tech Professionals

• Companies may rethink hiring international talent.
  
• Compensation packages for H-1B workers may need to rise.
  
• Visa lottery demand could shift.
  
• For individuals, this highlights the need for financial buffers, passive income, and tax-efficient strategies—because depending solely on wage income is now riskier than ever.
  

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6. The Bigger Lesson

This isn’t just about visas.

It’s about policy risk.

When your entire future rests on one stream of income (and a fragile policy), you’re exposed.

The smartest hedge? Build wealth streams that keep working for you no matter what politicians decide.

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⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not an attorney or immigration advisor. This is my understanding based on recent reports, and it may evolve as more details emerge. Please consult qualified legal and immigration experts for your specific situation.

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👉 If you’re an H-1B professional and want to explore how to build a portfolio that hedges against policy risk, DM me WEALTH.

#BuildWealth #LiveYourDreams #BricksFolios