Trump Management Imposes New Fees on H-1B Visa Applications
WASHINGTON – President Trump signed a proclamation adding a considerable new fee to applications for H-1B visas,a move aimed at increasing costs for companies relying on foreign workers and prioritizing American labor. The fee, reportedly around $100,000 per application, is intended to fund American worker training programs, according to administration officials.
The action comes amid ongoing debate over the H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations. Historically, these visas have been distributed through a lottery system. In 2024, lottery bids for the visas plunged nearly 40%, attributed by authorities to increased success in combating individuals “gaming the system” with multiple applications.
This year, amazon received the most H-1B visas, exceeding 10,000, followed by Tata Consultancy, Microsoft, apple, and Google. California hosts the largest number of H-1B workers.
The new fees and a proposed “gold card” for H-1B holders could be implemented by the president, while a “platinum card” requiring higher qualifications would necessitate congressional approval, according to immigration attorney David Lutnick.
critics of the H-1B program argue it often fills entry-level positions rather than roles requiring specialized skills. Concerns also exist that companies exploit the program by classifying jobs at lower skill levels to reduce labor costs, possibly undercutting U.S. wages and displacing American workers. As an inevitable result, some U.S. companies outsource tasks to consulting firms like Wipro, Infosys, HCL Technologies, Tata (in India), and IBM and Cognizant (in the U.S.), which then hire foreign workers, often from India.
Rand Paul, a Senator, characterized the move as a “service for immigration restrictionists,” suggesting the Trump administration prioritizes headlines and immediate impact over long-term legal viability.
The AFL-CIO has advocated for awarding visas to companies offering the highest wages, a reform previously sought by Trump during his first term.While recent changes to the lottery system-limiting each employee to one entry-were welcomed by critics, the labor group maintains further reforms are necessary.
Notably, First lady Melania trump, born in Slovenia, was herself granted an H-1B visa in October 1996 to work as a model.