United States President Donald Trump has signed an executive order introducing a hefty $100,000 annual fee on companies applying for H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers.
The new directive, which takes effect on September 21, 2025, drastically raises the cost for employers who rely on international talent.
“Companies need to decide if the person valuable enough to have a $100,000-a-year payment to the government, or should they head home and go hire an American?” said U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, stressing that major corporations support the measure.
The fee will apply to all new H-1B applications and must be renewed annually for up to six years, a sharp rise from the current average of $1,500.
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The H-1B programme, capped at 85,000 visas per year, has been a vital pathway for tech firms and startups hiring highly educated foreign professionals. Critics, however, warn that the new cost could cripple U.S. competitiveness in the global market.
“This $100,000 as an entry point is going to have a devastating impact,” said Tahmina Watson, a Seattle-based immigration attorney.
“Almost everyone’s going to be priced out. Many small and medium-sized companies simply can’t find qualified Americans to fill these roles.” Tahmina added.
Alongside the visa fee, the order also establishes a new “gold card” immigration system, offering fast-track residency for high-net-worth individuals who pay at least £1 million.
This move follows a series of hardline immigration measures rolled out in recent months, including bonds of up to $15,000 for some tourist and business visas, and a travel ban covering 12 countries announced in June.
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