US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order introducing a $100,000 application fee for H-1B worker visas, a significant increase from the current fee of $215. This move aims to curb abuse of the program and protect American workers by ensuring that only highly skilled workers are brought into the country. According to Trump, the fee will help the US attract “great workers” and prevent companies from replacing American workers with foreign labor.
The new fee is expected to impact Indians the most, as they are the largest beneficiaries of the H-1B visa program. In 2024, Indians accounted for 71% of approved beneficiaries, followed by China at 11.7%. The move has raised concerns among tech companies, which heavily rely on skilled workers from India and China. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that “all big companies are on board” with the change, but critics argue that it will deter global talent and harm innovation in the US.
The Trump administration’s decision has sparked debate, with some arguing that the H-1B program allows companies to hire highly skilled foreign workers and maintain competitiveness, while others claim it suppresses wages and sidelines American workers. The new fee could add millions of dollars in costs for companies, potentially hitting smaller tech firms and start-ups particularly hard. Some experts, like Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director of the American Immigration Council, have questioned the legality of the new fees, citing that Congress has only authorized the government to set fees to recover the cost of adjudicating an application.
In conjunction with this move, Trump also introduced the “Trump Gold Card,” a visa program that allows wealthy foreigners to obtain permanent residency and a pathway to US citizenship for a $1 million investment. The card is expected to raise over $100 billion for the US Treasury, which will be used to cut taxes and pay down debt.
