Trump Slaps $100,000 Fee on H-1B Visa Applications

[chainsniff]

Washington, Sept. 19, 2025 — President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications, a sharp increase from the current $215 registration fee.

The administration said the move is aimed at curbing “abuse” of the program and protecting American workers. The White House noted that H-1B holders now account for more than 65% of IT workers, up from 32% in 2003, while unemployment among recent computer science graduates has climbed to 6.1%.

The H-1B program, capped at 65,000 visas annually plus 20,000 for advanced U.S. degree holders, allows companies to hire foreign workers in specialized fields such as technology, engineering, and medicine.

The sharp fee increase is expected to draw strong opposition from Silicon Valley, where immigrant-founded companies are a cornerstone of the tech economy. Industry leaders, including Elon Musk, have previously defended the program as vital to U.S. innovation.

The proclamation leaves room for case-by-case exemptions in the “national interest” and directs the Labor Secretary to revise wage rules to prevent undercutting American salaries.

Major employers such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have reportedly advised H-1B workers to avoid foreign travel while the policy is reviewed.

[jacson4]

A $100K fee on H-1B visas? That’s basically shutting the door on global tech talent.

[Nahid10]

This move could backfire—US companies might lose competitiveness without skilled immigrants.