A US court has struck down the $100,000 fee announced by former President Donald Trump on new H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers, declaring the application charge unlawful.
US District Judge Leo Sorokin in Boston made the ruling in a lawsuit filed by 20 Democratic state attorneys general challenging the fee announced by Trump in September last year.
The judge argued that the policy exceeded Trump's authority and would be detrimental in key public sectors, including education and healthcare.
The US government said it would appeal the decision, which is a blow for the Trump administration.
The H-1B visa is granted to 65,000 foreign workers annually, with another 20,000 visas for workers with advanced degrees, for a period of three to six years.
Over 70 per cent of approved H-1B visas go to professionals from India.
