Facing Higher Fees for US H-1B Visas? Consider an Employer of Record
On September 19, 2025, the Trump administration announced a significant fee for new H-1B visas — the temporary, non-immigrant visas that allow highly skilled foreign nationals to work in the US.
From September 21, 2025, onward, employers will have to pay a new $100,000 USD fee for H-1B visas. This H-1B visa cost increase applies to all new petitions, including the 2026 H-1B visa lottery. The change does not apply to previously issued H-1B visas or any applications submitted before 12:01 AM on September 21, 2025. According to The New York Times, the change also does not apply to renewals.
The H-1B visa program gives employers a way to bring specialized skills to the US for specific roles. The regular cap for the number of H-1B visas issued is 65,000, according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The cap for the advanced degree exemption, also known as the “master’s cap,” is 20,000. USCIS notes that it has already received enough petitions for fiscal year 2026 to reach these caps.
What do the new H-1B visa rules mean for US employers?
The H1B policy changes in 2025 puts a strain on US employers that often turn to international labor markets for skills they cannot find in the US. Tech companies in particular are at a disadvantage, with Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Google among the top 10 recipients of H-1B visas in 2025, according to CNBC.
However, organizations that find the new fees prohibitive can still look outside the US to fill certain roles; they just can’t bring them into the US to perform their work. Bringing someone from abroad into the US under a new petition will now require the added fee. The remote work models refined during the Covid-19 pandemic allowed professionals to contribute from home. For many employers, the remote work model may now be the right solution and the easiest way forward.
Turning to an employer of record (EOR) solution
Factors that play into a company’s hiring strategy are the number of roles it typically fills with H-1B visa holders and its true need for specialized skills. Some businesses need hundreds or even thousands of H-1B visa holders, like Amazon, which had more than 14,000 H-1B holders in its employment at the end of June 2025, according to CNBC. Many need far fewer, and for them, an EOR offers a strong alternative to H-1B visas, allowing companies to tap overseas talent, as long as the roles allow for work to be performed remotely.
Benefits beyond cost savings
US-based organizations that want to hire overseas talent to work in markets outside the US typically need to establish an entity in a country before they can hire individuals there. This takes time and money, and it can be laden with risk, given the need to comply with federal, state / provincial, and sometimes municipal labor laws.
EORs not only help companies hire and onboard the overseas talent they need, but they also handle global payroll and compliance, as well as benefits administration.
So, before company leaders start worrying that their concerns over H-1B visa fees might be replaced by the hassles of hiring overseas, they should understand how an EOR works, or more specifically, how the Safeguard Global EOR solution works.
Safeguard Global: The EOR pioneer with fully compliant hiring capabilities in nearly 190 countries
Safeguard Global launched the EOR industry when it rolled out its Employer of Record solution in 2009. It now offers organizations access to a wide range of talent and skills across nearly 190 countries.
As a full-service EOR, Safeguard Global can integrate its Global Recruitment services into the solution, so instead of spending time on their talent search, HR executives can focus on strategic initiatives.
Safeguard Global’s 400+ in-country HR, tax, legal, and accounting experts make sure that everything — from contracts, payroll, and benefits right down to holidays and cultural customs — is managed in compliance with local laws and in line with cultural expectations.
Our platform gives employers actionable insights into their HR operations to enable stronger decision-making. Onboarding forms, payroll, benefits, and expenses can be managed more efficiently. And professionals hired through Safeguard Global’s EOR get the very same employee experience as the company’s other employees.
Stop worrying about H-1B fees; start thinking about Safeguard Global EOR
When we introduced our EOR solution 16 years ago, it wasn’t with US employee visa fees in mind. We were focused on giving businesses and nonprofit organizations a way to hire and pay the global talent they needed without setting up an entity overseas.
Now the EOR solution has proven its usefulness once again by providing a possible answer for US employers who can’t or don’t want to assume the high cost of H-1B visas. Safeguard Global is ready to help you find, hire, onboard, and pay the talent you need, wherever that talent happens to be.
Contact us now to see how Safeguard Global’s Employer of Record (EOR) solution can help you avoid H-1B visa fees.
FAQs
What are the new H1B visa fees for 2025?
As of September 21, 2025, new H-1B visa petitions require a $100,000 fee. This applies to all new filings, including the 2026 H1B visa lottery. It does not apply to renewals or petitions submitted before the deadline.
Do the new H1B visa rules affect renewals?
No. The 2025 H1B visa policy changes only apply to new petitions. Renewals and previously approved H1B visas are not affected.
Why did H1B visa costs increase in 2025?
The Trump administration introduced the fee increase to raise the cost of sponsoring foreign workers under the H-1B program. This creates challenges for employers that rely on international talent, especially in tech.
What alternatives do employers have to H1B visas?
Companies that cannot afford the higher H1B visa fees may consider remote hiring. An Employer of Record (EOR) allows businesses to hire, onboard, and pay global employees without sponsoring U.S. visas or setting up entities abroad.
How does an employer of record (EOR) help US employers?
An EOR , such as Safeguard Global, handles global payroll, compliance, onboarding, and benefits for international employees. This gives employers access to talent in nearly 190 countries — without the time, cost, and risk of H1B sponsorship.
