Visa Fee Hike Threatens North Dakota Schools And Hospitals

(Photo provided by Zachary Slayton via the North Dakota Monitor)

(North Dakota Monitor) – School superintendents, long challenged by teacher shortages across the state, are concerned that increased fees for H-1B visas will price them out of attracting foreign teachers to become long-term members in their communities.

The Trump administration implemented a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa petitions in late September, largely to target major tech companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Meta and Apple – the main companies applying for those visas. The policy does not affect those currently holding H-1B visas.

Some, like New Town Public School District on the Fort Berthold reservation, could face severe challenges from the policy change.

Over the past five years, the district has petitioned for 42 H-1B visas to bring in teachers, mostly from the Philippines.