Changes to the H-1B visa sparked concern among international students and staff at Oregon State University, raising questions about the future of research, hiring and career opportunities on campus.
On Sept. 19, President Donald Trump signed “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers,” a proclamation which added a $100,000 supplemental fee to new H-1B visa petitions filed after Sept. 21.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said that the $100,000 fee is a one time charge, not an annual requirement, and applies only to new petitions, not renewals or existing visas.
The H-1B visa is a work visa that allows employers to hire foreign professionals in specialty occupations that require specific skills and at least a bachelor’s degree, such as in technology, engineering or medicine. It permits the holder to live and work in the United States for up to three years, with the possibility of extension to six years, and it can also serve as a step toward permanent residency.
For OSU, the change could alter the university’s ability to bring in international faculty, staff and researchers.
According to the United States Citizen and Immigration Services H-1B Employer Database in 2025, Oregon employers had secured 885 new H-1B visas.
Students completing degrees on F-1 visas, which allow international students to study at an accredited U.S. college or university, who had planned to shift into H-1B employment, may also face fewer opportunities.
For smaller employers and startups, the $100,000 fee could make sponsorship financially impossible. As a result, graduates who hoped to continue their careers in the United States may have to look elsewhere.
The policy could also discourage prospective graduate students from applying to universities like OSU. With the cost of sponsorship rising so dramatically, some may instead turn to Canada, the United Kingdom or other countries with more stable immigration systems.
Two OSU international H-1B workers said they received emails from the Office of International Services telling them they should not leave the United States at this time if they are waiting on a change of status or a new visa appointment. One had already gone to their home country and was urged to return as quickly as possible to avoid potential complications.
Sultan Mohammed, a first-year OSU undergraduate engineering student, said, “If my future employer cannot afford that extra cost, then I might lose my chance to work in the United States.”
Xavier, an OSU graduate student from Russia, expressed similar concern. “For many of us, studying here was about building a future in America,” he said. “Now it feels like the door is slowly closing, and that is discouraging.”
OIS have begun hosting informational sessions about visa and immigration documents to help students and staff understand the changes and their possible impact. Advisors are encouraging students to ask questions, stay alert, explore multiple career pathways and also stay informed about ongoing legal and policy developments.
OSU, like many higher education institutions in the United States, relies heavily on international faculty, researchers and students to support its teaching, research and innovation.
The H-1B restrictions are set to last 12 months after the proclamation went into effect. Students who are about to graduate from the OSU community are closely monitoring developments to understand how their opportunities to study, work and contribute might be affected.
For readers seeking more details or official guidance, the USCIS website provides updated information and Frequently Asked Questions on the H-1B program at uscis.gov.
