DFA tells Filipiino H-1B visa holders to avoid travel outside US

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs has warned Filipino workers in the United States holding H-1B visas to avoid unnecessary travel outside the US until re-entry rules are clarified under US President Donald Trump's new $100,000 visa fee policy.

The DFA said employers may be forced to pay the steep fee when facilitating their employees' return to the US and could create potential complications for Filipino workers who travel abroad.

"Should travel outside the US be unavoidable, we encourage them to consult their employers in advance, as employers may be required to shoulder additional costs, such as the one-time fee of USD 100,000, when facilitating their employee's re-entry," the DFA said in a statement on Wednesday, September 24.

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Few Filipinos affected overall

The DFA, however, sought to reassure the public that Filipinos account for only 1.3% of all H-1B visa holders.

Those already in the US will not be affected by Trump's measure signed September 19, according to the DFA's statement.

The new one-time $100,000 fee is a massive jump from previous H-1B application costs of $2,000 to $5,000. 

Trump's proclamation initially sparked confusion as companies and workers struggled to understand its scope.

US immigration agencies clarified this week that the charge is a one-time fee applying only to new applications submitted after September 21. 

Workers with valid H-1B visas issued before that date can still travel in and out of the United States, and renewal applications remain unaffected.

Embassy monitoring implementation

"The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., together with our Consulates General across the United States, is closely monitoring the implementation of this proclamation," the DFA said. 

"We remain ready to provide guidance and assistance to our Filipino community as needed," it added.

The H-1B visa program allows US employers to temporarily hire skilled foreign workers in specialty occupations across healthcare, technology and finance industries. The program, created in 1990, was launched to address workforce gaps by bringing in professionals with specialized skills harder to find in the United States.

Major technology companies have relied heavily on H-1B approvals to hire employees from abroad.  

Based on previous trends, workers from China and India seeking computer-related jobs are likely to feel the strongest impact from the new visa policy.

These countries have historically dominated H-1B applications, particularly in the technology sector.