Colleges and research universities are assessing the operational impact of the Trump administration’s $100,000 H‑1B fee after initial guidance left uncertainty about who will pay and which petitions are covered. The policy, intended to raise revenue from high‑skilled immigration, could materially increase costs for institutions that sponsor foreign faculty, postdocs and researchers. Higher‑education legal experts and advocacy groups warn the fee may deter international hires, slow visa sponsorship for faculty in science and engineering, and reduce capacity for sponsored research. Institutions with significant reliance on H‑1B hires — including major research universities — are evaluating budget, visa strategy and whether exemptions or appeals are available. Why it matters: A steep new immigration fee alters hiring economics for faculty and researchers, potentially constraining research output, course offerings and graduate mentorship at affected campuses.