By Olatunbosun Obafemi
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday signed a proclamation raising the application fee for H-1B visas to $100,000, a move expected to send shockwaves through the technology industry, which relies heavily on foreign talent.
The announcement, made in the Oval Office, was coupled with the rollout of a new $1 million “gold card” residency program, which Trump had teased earlier this year.
“The main thing is, we’re going to have great people coming in, and they’re going to be paying,” Trump told reporters during the signing.
H-1B visas allow U.S. companies to hire foreign professionals with specialized skills, such as scientists, engineers, and computer programmers. The program grants an initial three-year stay, extendable to six years. Each year, 85,000 visas are awarded through a lottery system, with Indian nationals making up roughly 75 percent of recipients.
Major U.S. technology firms rely on Indian workers who either relocate permanently or rotate between the two countries. Industry leaders, including billionaire Elon Musk, have cautioned against restricting the program, warning of a domestic skills gap in critical sectors.
“All the big companies are on board,” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said at the event.
Trump has long targeted the H-1B program. His earlier attempts during his first term, which aimed to limit qualifying jobs, were blocked by the courts. The new fee-based approach marks the latest step in his administration’s broader immigration crackdown.
Under the proclamation, the $100,000 fee will apply to applicants beginning Sunday, though the Secretary of Homeland Security has discretion to exempt individuals, companies, or entire industries. The measure is valid for one year but can be extended.
The number of H-1B applications has surged in recent years, peaking in 2022 under President Joe Biden. About 400,000 visas were approved in 2024, with two-thirds being renewals. By contrast, rejection rates hit their highest point in 2018, during Trump’s first term.
Alongside the visa changes, Trump also signed an order establishing a fast-track residency scheme, under which individuals can secure U.S. residency for $1 million, while corporate sponsors may pay $2 million on behalf of applicants.
“I think it’s going to be tremendously successful,” Trump said.
