The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has enacted a comprehensive executive order that establishes an annual fee of $100,000 for companies applying for H-1B visas to employ skilled foreign workers, as reported by BBC on Saturday.
This new regulation is scheduled to be implemented on September 21, 2025.
“Companies must determine — is the individual sufficiently valuable to warrant a $100,000 annual payment to the government, or should they return home and recruit an American?” stated US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
“All major companies are in agreement.”
This new fee will be applicable to all new H-1B visa applications and is required to be paid annually for a maximum of six years.
As reported by BBC, the program, which is currently limited to 85,000 visas each year, has historically been essential for technology companies and startups in their pursuit of highly educated foreign talent. Previously, the total fees associated with this program were approximately $1,500.
Critics, however, argue that the measure could significantly undermine US competitiveness in the global economy, particularly within the technology sector.
“This $100,000 entry threshold is likely to have a catastrophic effect,” stated Tahmina Watson, an immigration attorney located in Seattle.
“Nearly everyone will be priced out. Numerous small and medium-sized enterprises simply cannot locate qualified Americans to fill the positions.”
The executive order also implements a new “gold card” system, which provides expedited immigration for select high-net-worth individuals in return for fees beginning at £1 million.
Last month, the US launched a pilot program mandating bonds of up to $15,000 for certain tourist and business visas. In June, a travel ban was announced, restricting entry from 12 countries.
