Washington: Seeking to stem widespread confusion over a hefty new fee for skilled workers' visas, the White House stated that the new $100,000 fee for H-1B visas in the US will not affect existing visa holders reentering the country.

According to Anadolu Agency, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt emphasized on US social media company X that "those who already hold H-1B visas and are currently outside of the country right now will NOT be charged $100,000 to re-enter." She clarified that this fee is a one-time charge applicable only to new petitions, not an annual fee.

The announcement followed President Donald Trump's proclamation on Friday, which caused immediate chaos among businesses and immigration lawyers. Companies quickly advised their employees to return to the US before the policy's effect on Sunday, fearing new charges. However, Leavitt reassured that H-1B visa holders could continue their travel without the new fee affecting their reentry rights, as the fee applies only to new visas and does not affect renewals or existing holders.

The implementation of the new fee will begin with the next lottery cycle for H-1B visas. This move, as per the administration, aims to reduce the alleged abuse of the visa system where companies reportedly replace US tech workers with lower-cost foreign labor. The initial proclamation's wording, however, did not clearly differentiate between existing and new visa holders, leading to widespread panic among businesses.