subject: Border Security Bill Signed by President Obama Increases H-1B and L-1B visa fee [print this page] The new Emergency Border Security Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010 that has been passed recently by the U.S. Senate has considerably increased the L-1 and H-1B visa fees. This increase in fees for L-1 and H-1B petitions applies to those employers whose workforce has more than fifty percent of H-1B and L-1 nonimmigrants. The Senate passed the bill on August 5, 2010 in the House. However, the bill was sent back to the House due to a constitutional requirement. The bill then reached the President where it was finally approved and signed.
The increase in L-1 and H-1B visa fees is a measure taken to raise funds to protect the US-Mexico border. Though the increase in fees has been imposed mostly on Indian companies, both Indian and American companies have called the bill "discriminatory."
On August 12, 2010 when the US Senate reconvened after its summer recess, President Obama welcomed the new border security bill. This short session was attended by only two Senators: Charles Schumer and Democrats Ben Cardin. It is because if legislation is agreed by everyone, the Senate rules allow only two Senators to be present in the session. In early August, the bill was passed by the House of Representatives.
There are certain foreign-controlled companies that greatly rely on H-1B and L-1 visas to hire foreign nationals to work for them in the United States. As Senator Claire McCaskill said, there will an increase of USD 2,000 in the H-1B and L-1 visa fees per visa application for these foreign-controlled companies.
According to President Obama, apart from strengthening the work of federal law enforcement forces, the increase in L-1 and H-1B visa fees will also bolster their partnership with local, state, and tribal law enforcement. He said that the resources obtained through the new legislation will help effectively protect the people along the Southwest border. He further added that the efforts of USA in partnership with Mexico in dissuading criminal activities along the border will be strengthened by the new legislation.
Border Security Bill Signed by President Obama Increases H-1B and L-1B visa fee
