The work permit update of 2025 in the US presents the major changes in rules that influence the application procedures and charges. The most significant change is the presidential declaration made on September 19, 2025, to impose a fee of 100,000 dollars on the majority of new H-1B visa petitions of specialty occupation workers to prevent abuse and safeguard workers in the US.
The process of application to US Work Permit (EAD) takes approximately twelve weeks.
– Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization is usually submitted by the applicants, who have a valid visa status that permits employment authorization.
– It starts with an employer initiating a petition (Form I-129) on behalf of the foreign employee, where he/she would provide an overview of his/her job and would certify his/her wages.
The next thing to be reviewed in USCIS is immunity where after being approved with an EAD of 1-2 years, the alien can work in any position without restrictions by the employer.
– There are visa types that do not need attachment to an EAD but work permission thus related to the visa (e.g. H-1B visa holders already permitted to work with the sponsor company).
Major 2025 Rule Changes
– The new H-1B fee on H-1B applications of 100,000 dollars is limited to petitions submitted on or after September 21, 2025, as well as new petitions submitted to USCIS, and not extensions or renewals of current H-1B workers.
– There is the restriction on entry since the H-1B visa holders cannot enter the US until they have paid the fee, requesting a period of 12 months after the date on which the proclamation is effective.
– Authoritative explanations affirm those who already have an existing and valid visa or petition submitted before the deadline do not suffer any effect and can travel and work as usual.
The effects on the employers and applicants are as follows.
– New H-1B hires in foreign countries will incur an extra charge of $100,000, which will force many employers to reduce the amount of applications post-late 2025.
– USCIS updates regarding fee submission and petitions are to be followed by prospective H-1B applicants and employers closely.
– Near total visa bulletin processing and filing dates by category that relate to employment have been stable at end of 25 and no significant backlog changes have been reported.
Overall, the current procedure related to the work permit application in the US will not change much except for the fact that the initial price of new H-1B petitions will be introduced since September 21, 2025. They are still submitting Form I-765 to obtain EADs and approvals would allow applicants to work authorized as the policy is modified to minimize the misuse of visas and defend domestic labor markets.
