F1 Visa Students Exempted from Paying 100K H1B Visa Fee
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F1 Visa Students Exempted from Paying 100K H1B Visa Fee

JasmineUpdated on 04 Nov 2025, 09:41 AM IST

One of the major relaxations for international students in USA on an F1 visa is that they might be exempted from paying the increased H1B visa fee. This means that students on an F1 visa in the USA are exempt from paying the H1B visa fee upon transitioning their visa status. Those who are enrolled in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program can also transition to H1B status without paying the new H1B fee. However, there are certain conditions under which F1 students will be exempted from the H1B visa fee. Read this article to find out the conditions, the exemptions of H1B visa fees and related details.

This Story also Contains

  1. H1B Visa Fee Exemption for F1 Visa Students
  2. Key Considerations for F1 Visa Students
  3. How will the H1B Visa Fee Exemption Benefit F1 Students?
F1 Visa Students Exempted from Paying 100K H1B Visa Fee
F1 Visa Students Exempted from Paying 100K H1B Visa Fee

H1B Visa Fee Exemption for F1 Visa Students

Starting from petitions submitted after September 21, 2025, the H1B visa fee of 100,000mightnotbeapplicablewhenthepetitionisforachangeofstatus(COS),anamendment,oranextensionofstayforsomeonecurrentlyintheUSAonF1status.ThismeansthatanF1studentwhoisalreadyintheUSA,orisundertheOPTtraining,canhavetheiremployerfileforanH1Bchangeofstatuswithouthavingtopaythat100,000 fee. However, this exemption does not automatically apply to all individuals outside the US.

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Key Considerations for F1 Visa Students

It is important to understand that this policy change has a few conditions that must be referred to. There are still several conditions and risks to keep in mind:

  • A change of status needs to be requested and approved while the applicant is physically present in the USA on a valid F1 visa. If the student leaves the USA or if their request for a change of status is not granted, they might not be eligible for the H1B visa fee exemption.

  • The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will analyse the applicant's eligibility, their visa history, and other relevant circumstances.

  • If the applicant leaves the USA after receiving approval and then is required to apply for a consular visa at an international US embassy, they will be required to pay the $100k fee.

  • The individual needs to maintain a valid non-immigrant status throughout the entire H1B transition process. If their visa status expires or they overstay, their change of status could be denied, and they might have to pay the H1B visa fee.

How will the H1B Visa Fee Exemption Benefit F1 Students?

The new exemption benefits F1 students who are looking to stay and work after studying in USA. Some of the benefits include:

  • More Job Opportunities: The H1B visa exemption of $100,000 for F1 students will create more opportunities for the students in USA. This means that companies can hire F1 students, which was an uncertainty since the new rule was announced.

  • Easier Transition from OPT to H1B: After completing their studies, many F1 students work under OPT. This exemption allows them to transition directly from F1 or OPT status to H1B without asking their employer to pay the increased H1B visa fee.

  • Increased Opportunities in Smaller Companies: As the increased H1B visa fee was not feasible for the smaller or mid-sized companies, this exemption will allow them to hire F1 students. This will also open up more job opportunities.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Who is exempt from the H-1B fee?
A:

F1 students who are planning to change their status and transition to H1B are exempt from paying the H1B visa fee of $100k. Moreover, applicants in the OPT program currently in the USA can also apply for the visa without paying the fees.

Q: Who pays the 100,000 H-1B visa fee?
A:

The US employer will sponsor the new hire from abroad will have to pay $100,000 H1B visa fee. This was the rule announced by the Trump administration in September 2025.

Q: Who is subject to the $100,000 fee?
A:

Any new applicant applying from outside the USA who has received sponsorship from a US employer will be eligible for the H1B visa fee. However, the H1B visa fee is paid by the employer and not the applicant.

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Hi there

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Yes you can learn before going to us. Learning skills definitively adds some value to the life of a candidate and also improves in getting good recognition in life..

Below i have mentioned some courses  that you can try before visiting us:

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So these are some courses you can try.

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Thank you and good luck:)

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YES, you can MS in UA after completing Bsc in Statistics. . All you have to do is score good marks in your PG and prepare for GRE. You should also decide upon the country and the university in which you are going to study.

Furthermore, the requirements to pursue MS in USA are as follows :

  • 3 to 4 years bachelors degree in relevant field.
  • 3.5 or higher GPA, equivalent to 87% in bachelors.
  • GRE score of 330 or above.
  • Statement of Purpose.
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Further, requirements for Software jobs in USA are as follows :

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I hope that this will help.

Dear aspirant hope you are doing well..

To study at foreign universities/abroad in U. S , the admission process will require the candidate to give one language exam and one standardized exam. However, depending on the country, course, college, or university you are applying for you may be exempted from standardized exams. The language test will showcase your English proficiency skills. These exams are required for pursuing almost all courses abroad. Different countries have different language exams such as

  • TOEFL exam for getting admission to the universities in the US and Canada. The score of this exam is valid for two years after the declaration of results
  • There are plenty of universities abroad where you can apply to do master-level course, MSc in statistics, MSc in Operation Research, and Applied Mathematics, MSc in Mathematical Modeling, etc are some of the Master level Course in Mathematics that are available abroad. Students who have completed their graduation or bachelor's degree in Mathematics can apply for these courses. Foreign universities like Uppsala University, Dublin City University, Oxford Brookes University, University of York, University of Liverpool, etc offer all the above-mentioned courses in mathematics.

Top university of The USA for master degree courses

  • John Carroll University
  • Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • Michigan State University
  • West Virginia University
  • Rhode Island College
  • University of Arkansas
  • Vanderbilt University
  • DePaul University
  • Delaware State University
  • Texas A&M University-Commerce
  • University of South Florida
  • California State University Northridge

You can get the detailed information about the process how to apply for MS in USA. read the given article. Link is given below

https://studyabroad.careers360.com/articles/how-apply-for-ms-in-usa/amp

Hope it's helpful for you..

Thank you

There are many ways to choose your university such as fees, the ranking of the university, which state it is located and scholarships. My suggestion is to choose your research focus and write academic papers. In the US, PhD in Commerce admission into the university depends on what you want to study (your area of research) and your already completed research papers. You can begin your research by searching online for US universities offering PhD in Business Administration. One example is University of California Los Angeles (https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/degrees/phd-program/admissions#app-req) .


Hello  Student

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Hope this will help.