Statement on the Trump Administration’s Recent Proclamation of a Raise in New H-1B Visa Fees

September 22, 2025

Statement by Executive Director & CEO Thomas P. Kimbis on the Trump Administration’s Recent Proclamation of a Raise in New H-1B Visa Fees

Postdoctoral researchers - or postdocs - are highly-skilled early-career professionals who advance our economy and society through cutting-edge innovation across all disciplines. Thousands of international postdocs use H-1B visas to apply their world-class expertise across industry, academia, and other research institutions.

If implemented, the administration’s proclamation to impose a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visas would create an enormous barrier for employers seeking to attract top talent from around the world. America’s competitors must be celebrating this radical policy position that lets them steal away extraordinary workers who would otherwise bring their skills to the United States.

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational nonprofit organization, headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, that seeks to improve the postdoctoral experience by supporting a culture of inclusive connection. Founded in 2003, our membership is composed of more than 240 U.S. research institutions and 24,000 individual postdoctoral researchers (“postdocs”). Collectively, we represent the interests of the 70,000 postdocs training across the nation in science and research fields.