Bangladesh, Aug. 26 -- The Trump administration is taking another major step toward reshaping the US H-1B visa program, proposing a six-figure fee that could dramatically change how American companies recruit highly skilled foreign workers. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed requiring employers to pay an additional $103,265 when filing certain new H-1B petitions subject to the annual numerical cap.

The proposal represents one of the most significant attempts yet by the administration to make the H-1B system more restrictive and expensive for private-sector employers. While it does not eliminate the program, the financial burden could substantially reduce the number of companies willing to participate in the annual H-1...