National discussions surrounding H-1B visas have caused uncertainties for universities about what it means for international scholars.
Despite the ongoing changes at the federal level, the University of Missouri System is still well positioned to maintain international professors and researchers.
In September, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation, titled the “Restriction of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers,” that adds a new requirement to H-1B visas of a $100,000 dollar fee during the petition process of the visa application. This left many companies and educational institutions alike questioning the future of their immigration worker pools.
Kristen Colbrecht, the director of international student and scholar services, said the recent guidance on who is subject to the $100,000 fee will affect a very small number of cases Mizzou files each year.
Current H-1B visa holders are permitted to travel internationally and should not be subject to the $100,000 fee. Additional criteria for who this new petition is applicable toward includes:
New H-1B petitions filed on or after Sept. 21, 2025, on behalf of beneficiaries who are outside the United States and do not have a valid H-1B visa.
Petitions filed on or after Sept. 21, 2025, that request consular notification, port of entry notification or pre-flight inspection.
Petitions filed on or after Sept. 21, 2025, that request amendment, change of status or extension of stay, but USCIS determines that the individual is not eligible for amendment, change of status or extension of stay.
Petitions filed on or after Sept. 21, 2025, that request amendment, change of status or extension of stay, but the individual departs the U.S. before the petition is approved.
“As an institution, the number of H-1B cases that we file for individuals outside of the United States is relatively small. Given this new proclamation, I anticipate the number of sponsorship requests we receive for individuals outside the U.S. will decrease,” Colbrecht said.
The UM System cannot support an H-1B application for an individual outside of the United States except in rare and exceptional circumstances, Colbrecht said. The university continues to file cases for someone who is already in the U.S. on a valid nonimmigrant visa status and is requesting amendment, change of status or extension of stay, and who does not depart the U.S. before the petition is approved.
The university’s international student office has documented a steady flow of international scholars since academic year 2020-21 through academic year 2024-25 ranging from 198 to nearly 300 scholars.
Additionally, the federal H-1B Employer Data Hub indicates that UM System has secured a total of 166 H-1B beneficiaries for the 2025 fiscal year. The H-1B Employer Data Hub includes data from fiscal year 2009 through fiscal year 2025 on employers who have submitted petitions to employ nonimmigrant workers.
Despite Mizzou’s stable position during this time, education advocates such as the American Council on Education, or ACE, have raised concerns about this fee and other new rules.
There is a pending proposal to reform the H-1B program. The Department of Homeland Security could potentially prioritize high-skilled, high-paid immigrants in the H-1B lottery over those at lower wage levels outlined by the U.S. Department of Labor.
On Oct. 24, comments were submitted by ACE on behalf of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, American Association of Community Colleges and several other education advocacy groups to the DHS that “would dramatically reduce access to the H-1B visa program for early career professionals, including those who have completed master’s or doctoral degrees at U.S. institutions of higher education.
ACE emphasized that high-skilled immigration is vital to innovation, job creation and economic growth.
The work of the Missouri News Network is written by Missouri School of Journalism students and editors for publication by Missouri Press Association member newspapers.