US President Donald Trump has stunned the tech world by signing a proclamation that hikes the application fee for H-1B visas to a jaw-dropping $100,000.
The move, announced Friday in the Oval Office, is the latest step in Trump’s sweeping immigration crackdown and could upend Silicon Valley’s reliance on foreign talent.
H-1B visas allow companies to bring in highly skilled workers — from engineers to computer scientists — on three-year permits, extendable to six. With 85,000 issued annually, and Indians accounting for roughly three-quarters of recipients, the scheme has long been a lifeline for America’s tech industry.
But the $100,000 fee, set to take effect Sunday, marks a seismic shift. While Homeland Security will be able to grant exemptions to individuals, companies or even entire industries, the fee is expected to face fierce legal challenges.
Alongside the visa fee hike, Trump unveiled a “gold card” residency scheme offering expedited US residency for $1 million, or $2 million via corporate sponsorship.
“The main thing is, we’re going to have great people coming in, and they’re going to be paying,” Trump told reporters.
Tech leaders, including former ally Elon Musk, have warned that throttling H-1B visas risks crippling innovation, given the shortage of US-born talent to fill specialised roles.
The order will run for one year unless extended by Trump. It comes as H-1B applications surge, with approvals peaking in 2022 under President Joe Biden, while rejections hit their highest during Trump’s first term. In 2024 alone, 400,000 visas were approved — two-thirds being renewals.
With Silicon Valley heavily dependent on foreign expertise, the new rules could reshape America’s tech landscape overnight.
