Sri Lanka, Sept. 21 -- The White House said on Saturday that the new 100,000-U.S.-dollar fee for H-1B visas will not apply to current holders of valid visas re-entering the United States, following confusion and concern sparked by the Trump administration's introduction of the measure.

The fee, taking effect on Sunday, "applies only to new visas, not renewals, and not current visa holders," said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in a post on X. "H-1B visa holders can leave and re-enter the country to the same extent as they normally would."

She also said that it's a "one-time fee that applies only to the petition."

The H-1B program allows U.S. companies to hire highly skilled foreign workers. U.S. President Donald Trump on F...