On September 20, 2025, President Trump signed a proclamation introducing an unprecedented $100,000 surcharge on new H-1B petitions. The move, which comes amid a broader tightening of U.S. immigration rules, has sparked widespread concern among employers and foreign nationals. Jonathan Grode told ABC News that even U.S. consulates are “seeking additional guidance” on how to implement the change, adding that “we are in full-on — I hate to use the word, but — panic mode for a lot of individuals.”
