# Trump administration is appealing ruling the blocked $100,000 H-1B visa fee > Source: > Published: 2026-06-11 18:57:58+00:00 **Getting your** [Trinity Audio](//trinityaudio.ai)player ready...**By Madlin Mekelburg, Bloomberg** The Trump administration will appeal a federal judge’s order [striking down a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications](https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/06/08/federal-judge-voids-trumps-100000-fee-requirement-for-h-1b-visas/). The Justice Department filed a notice on Thursday that it will appeal the Monday ruling, which was a major blow to the president’s campaign to restrict immigration and boost demand for US workers. US District Judge Leo T. Sorokin in Boston sided with a group of states that sued over the policy, finding that the president’s decree dramatically increasing the cost of the popular visa is an illegal tax. The H-1B visa program is a cornerstone of employment-based immigration, allowing companies in the US to hire college-educated foreign workers for specialized occupations. In September, Trump signed a proclamation to increase the application fee to discourage companies from abusing a program that he claimed displaces US workers. The case is one of at least three lawsuits challenging the president’s initiative. The US Chamber of Commerce and a nurse recruiting firm are pursuing two separate cases against the administration’s policy. In December, a judge rejected the Chamber’s request to block the fee and the Chamber appealed the decision to a federal appeals court in Washington. The case is State of California v. Mullin, 25-cv-13829, US District Court, District of Massachusetts. More stories like this are available on [bloomberg.com](https://www.bloomberg.com) ©2026 Bloomberg L.P.