H-1B shocker: Trump announces $100,000 fee for visa applications

Washington DC (The Uttam Hindu): US President Donald Trump has announced a proclamation imposing a USD 100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications in what is being seen as one of the strictest measures on immigration policy. The administration claims the move is aimed at curbing the overuse of the H-1B program and ensuring that only “highly skilled” foreign workers are brought into the United States.

White House officials explained that the sharp fee hike will discourage companies from replacing American workers with cheaper foreign labour. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said that training American graduates must be a priority and that forcing companies to pay such a high sponsorship fee would make it “uneconomic” to depend on foreign workers. He stressed that the measure is designed to protect US jobs and reduce dependency on H-1B visa holders.

The H-1B visa, which allows companies to hire foreign workers in specialised fields such as STEM and IT has long been controversial. Indian nationals, who account for more than 70 percent of H-1B approvals annually since 2015 are expected to be the most affected by the decision. The move also comes after several US leaders including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis branded the current H-1B system as a “scam” that disadvantages American workers.