Trump Slaps $100,000 Fee On H-1B Visas
By ESTHER McWILLIS-IKHIDE
US President Donald Trump has raised the H-1B visa application fee to $100,000, a move expected to shake the tech industry heavily reliant on foreign talent, especially from India.
Announced alongside a new $1 million “gold card” residency program, the order takes effect Sunday and lasts a year, with possible extensions.
Trump defended the measure as a way to attract “great people” while critics warn it could worsen talent shortages in US tech.
The H-1B program issues 85,000 visas annually, with approvals topping 400,000 in 2024, mostly renewals. The change marks Trump’s latest step in his broader immigration crackdown.
