New Visa Fees and Tiered System Aim to prioritize High-Earning Foreign Workers
the Trump administration has announced significant changes to the H-1B visa program for highly skilled foreign workers, including a new annual $100,000 fee for applications and the introduction of tiered visa options for wealthy individuals and sponsoring companies. These changes are framed as a way to prioritize skilled workers who will contribute significantly to the U.S. economy and reduce competition for American jobs.
During a press conference, former President Trump highlighted the issue of foreign students excelling in U.S. education only to be unable to remain in the country after graduation. He likened the new fees to a “signing bonus” in professional sports, suggesting corporations will absorb the cost to retain valuable employees.
Currently, H-1B visas, requiring at least a bachelor’s degree, are intended to fill high-skilled positions in fields like technology where U.S. workers are scarce. Though, critics argue the program has become a source of lower-wage labor, with some H-1B workers earning as little as $60,000 annually – significantly less than the typical salaries for U.S. tech professionals.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick pointed to the existing employment-based Green Card program,which admits 281,000 people annually earning an average of $66,000 per year. He also stated that recipients of these Green Cards are five times more likely to require government financial assistance.
The administration argues the new system will shift the focus towards attracting individuals who will contribute financially and economically.Lutnick asserted the changes will generate over $100 billion for the U.S., with funds earmarked for tax cuts and debt reduction.
The centerpiece of the new system is the introduction of the “Trump Card” visa program, featuring multiple tiers:
* “Trump Gold Card”: Available for a $1 million contribution (plus processing and vetting fees), this visa offers a pathway to U.S. residency.
* Company Sponsorship (Gold Card): Companies sponsoring an employee will incur a $2 million cost.
* “Trump Platinum Card”: Priced at $5 million, this visa allows foreigners to spend up to 270 days in the U.S. without being subject to U.S.taxes on income earned outside the country.This replaces a previously announced $5 million “Gold Card” proposal.
Former President Trump emphasized the financial benefits of the program, stating that individuals and corporations will “spend a lot of money to come in” and that the initiative will generate “billions and billions of dollars.” He contrasted these visa holders with undocumented immigrants,asserting they are “very productive people” who will contribute to the economy.
The administration frames these changes as a reversal of what they describe as a previous “open-border” policy that disadvantaged American workers. Lutnick stated the new programs “guarantee that recipients…must provide significant benefit to our great country,” and aim to end the practice of foreign workers ”taking jobs away from hard-working Americans.”