A judge in Boston ruled the charge unlawful, invalidating a fee that sharply raised the cost of hiring skilled foreign workers, a cost felt hardest by the tech industry.

A federal judge on Monday ruled that the $100,000 fee imposed by US President Donald Trump for H-1B applications was unlawful as it did not have the approval of Congress.

Properly submitted H-1B registrations dropped by 38.5 per cent year-on-year, falling from 343,981 in fiscal year 2026 to 211,600 for fiscal year 2027.