A federal judge in Boston has declared a $100,000 fee imposed on new H-1B work visas for highly skilled foreign workers unlawful, ruling that the charge was introduced without Congressional approval.
Judge Leo Sorokin said the fee, introduced by President Donald Trump in September, effectively amounted to a tax and therefore required authorization from Congress. The Trump administration had argued that the measure would create more opportunities for American workers.
The court sided with a lawsuit brought by around 20 Democrat-led states, including California, challenging the legality of the fee. Before the increase, employers typically paid between $2,000 and $5,000 for similar visas.
H-1B visas are widely used by the US technology sector to hire skilled foreign professionals. The White House has not yet commented on the ruling.
On the other hand, the United States (US) embassy in Islamabad announced that it will function normally today, on Tuesday. However, US consulates in Lahore and Karachi will remain closed today, according to the reports.
US visa services in Pakistan
Previously, the United States Embassy in Islamabad and all American consulates in Pakistan announced an important update for Pakistani passport holders.
According to details, the US had suspended all routine services from March 2, 2026.
The decision was made due to serious security concerns amid unrest in different parts of the country.
Big update for Pakistani visa applicants by US embassy
The suspension applies to the embassy in Islamabad as well as the consulates in Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar.
All regular services had been stopped until further notice. This includes visa appointments, passport processing, services for American citizens, and other routine consular assistance.
Officials had said that a new schedule would be announced later. Thousands of visa applicants and US citizens are now waiting for further instructions.
Also read: US visa scam: FIA registers case over alleged fraud
