The order, signed Friday, keeps the $100,000 fee on H‑1B visas in place through December 2027—overturning a June ruling that deemed the charge unlawful. The Boston‑based appeals court is reviewing the federal judge’s decision that blocked the fee, while another panel examines whether a judge properly rejected a challenge filed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In the meantime, tech giants such as Alphabet have already shifted part of their hiring strategy to India, citing the visa bottleneck as a key obstacle to recruiting high‑skill talent. A software engineer from Bangalore, who had accepted a U.S. offer last month, now faces a three‑month delay, highlighting the human cost of the policy. The court is slated to issue a ruling in early August, after which the administration will either enforce the fee or face a legal reversal.