President Donald Trump signed a proclamation introducing a major overhaul of the H‑1B visa program on Friday. Under the new policy, new applicants for H‑1B visas will be required to pay an annual fee of $100,000. At the same time, he unveiled a “gold card” visa option with a pathway to U.S. citizenship for individuals willing to pay $1 million, and a “platinum card” visa costing $5 million that allows extensive stays in the U.S. without taxation on foreign income.
The fee hike marks a dramatic change from the existing cost‑structure, under which H‑1B applicants pay modest fees. Under the new rules, companies will only be able to file H‑1B petitions for foreign nationals outside the U.S. if the fee is met. Those already in the country or renewing visas are reportedly exempt from the entry restriction clause under certain interpretations of the proclamation. The order takes effect in the upcoming H‑1B lottery cycle, raising immediate concerns among tech companies, immigration advocates, and foreign governments.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated the administration sees the higher fee as a way to force employers to prioritize hiring and training American workers. He warned that many companies may reduce hiring under the H‑1B cap because the fee will make it “just not economic” to sponsor foreign workers at lower salary levels. Some tech firms are advising H‑1B holders abroad to return to the U.S. before the changes are enforced in order to avoid incurring the fee.
Critics argue that Trump is bypassing Congress, as immigration rules and fees are typically set by statute, not solely by presidential proclamation. Legal experts expect lawsuits to challenge the proclamation on grounds that it exceeds executive authority. Foreign governments, especially those whose citizens make up large portions of H‑1B visa holders, have warned that the fee could disrupt families and operations of companies reliant on skilled foreign labor.
