The US Chamber of Commerce has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration's new $100,000 (£74,000) fee on H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers.
The fee "will make it cost-prohibitive" for US employers to use the programme, said Neil Bradley, Chief Policy Officer at the pro-business group.
Trump signed an executive order last month instituting the fee, arguing the visa programme has been abused. Critics have said it undercuts the American workforce. It is used heavily by the US tech sector, both by major companies and small startups.
The White House responded to the suit by calling the fee lawful and a "necessary, initial, incremental step towards necessary reforms" to the programme.
Mr Trump's order only applies to new visa requests in the programme and vows to restrict entry unless a payment was made.
