President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping executive order introducing a $100,000 annual fee on companies applying for H-1B visas, the BBC reported.
The new policy, scheduled to take effect on September 21, 2025, will require firms to pay the hefty fee each year for up to six years — a dramatic increase from the current cost of about $1,500.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick defended the measure, saying it would push companies to prioritize American workers.
“Companies need to decide — is 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? All of the big companies are on board,” Lutnick said.
The H-1B visa program, capped at 85,000 visas annually, has long been a lifeline for U.S. tech firms and startups seeking highly skilled foreign talent.
Critics warn of global fallout
Immigration experts and business leaders warn the order could cripple U.S. competitiveness in the global tech economy.
“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 or medium-sized companies simply can’t find qualified Americans to do the job.”
New “Gold Card” system
Alongside the visa fee, the executive order introduces a “gold card” fast-track immigration system for high-net-worth individuals, with fees starting at £1 million.
This move follows a series of restrictive immigration measures:
• A $15,000 bond pilot scheme for certain tourist and business visas launched last month.
• A travel ban announced in June, blocking entry from 12 countries.
