The $2,000 extra H-1B visa fee that had recently expired on October 1, 2015 may be reintroduced in an effort to fund the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which provides health treatment and financial aid to certain 9/11 workers and survivors.

Prior to its expiration on October 1, certain companies were required to pay an extra $2,000 fee for each employee being sponsored for the H-1B visa. These companies include those with over 50 percent of their employees sponsored on H-1B for L-1 visas, many of which are from the Indian IT sector. The expiration of this fee requirement brought a sigh of relief from such Indian companies that reportedly paid an average of about $75 million annually since 2010 as a result of the fee.

Now, a group of Congress lawmakers is trying to have the fee reinstated permanently, targeting Indian companies, to fund a 9/11 Health and Compensation Act that funds health screenings and treatments for 9/11 first responders.

The new initiative for the fee largely targets Indian IT companies because the $2,000 fee is only required of firms that have more than 50 percent of their workforce on H-1B visas or L-1 visas, most of which are Indian IT companies.

More information about the expiration of the fee can be found in the following article: Additional Fees No Longer Required of Certain H1B and L1 Employers.