Those working in the United States and applying for immigration are in for a shock! CNN reported today that US President Trump signed an executive order increasing H-1B work visa application fees to $100,000 per year. Effective immediately, applicants will be required to pay a lump sum of $300,000 over three years, or in annual installments.
Trump publicly stated at the White House that the move was intended to "encourage businesses to give priority to hiring American workers while maintaining a pipeline of highly skilled foreign talent."
We (America) need great workers, and this measure will ensure that companies truly hire the best talent.
The US H-1B visa system originally issued 65,000 visas annually, with an additional 20,000 reserved for graduates of US higher education institutions. Due to demand far outstripping supply, a lottery system has long been used. The tech industry has been particularly hard hit by Trump's new policies, with many companies relying on H-1B visas to fill the gap in skilled talent that is difficult to recruit locally.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the fee structure is still being negotiated with the Department of Homeland Security and may be adjusted to "a lump sum payment or installments" in the future.
Trump also proposed a "Gold Card" immigration program, which would expedite visa applications for foreign nationals by paying $1 million. Companies willing to pay $2 million for foreign employees could further expedite the review process. Howard Lutnick criticized the current green card system, saying it "leads to the United States absorbing the world's lowest-income workers," and emphasized that the new policy would "attract only the best and brightest talent."
This executive order is effective immediately and will remain in effect unless a court rules to suspend or invalidate it, or Congress passes legislation to counter it.
H-1B is the "entry" for controlling immigration to the United States
Trump's stance on the H-1B visa has shifted several times. During his 2016 campaign, he criticized companies for "displacing American workers with low wages," and during the 2020 pandemic, he tightened visa policies several times. However, during the 2024 election, he expressed support for some foreign graduates to obtain legal status. In December 2025, he publicly stated:
I have always supported the H-1B visa, that's why we established it.
The main reason is that Trump is controlling the domestic employment rate and reducing the number of residence permits for foreigners. H-1B is usually a "long-term stay" before a green card, and the quota is based on fees, which is exactly the approach Trump is currently taking.
Job seeker collapse in the US
As soon as this news came out, many F-1 visa holders who were studying in the United States, preparing to find work and reside in the United States, or in OPT (Optional Practical Training) after graduation, cried out online after hearing about the sharp increase in H-1B visa fees. Because once the visa fee increases to $100,000, there will be almost no company willing to assist with sponsorship, which means that their job prospects will be cut off.
Originally, H-1B visa application fees were only a few thousand dollars, but the new regulations have increased them to $100,000 per year, totaling $300,000 over three years. This is far beyond the reach of most foreign job seekers and small and medium-sized enterprises. These high fees will force companies to reassess the necessity of hiring foreign workers, prioritizing local talent and paying high fees only for a very small number of top foreign talent.
The United States has long attracted the world's tech and financial elite. A significant visa price increase could cause some of this talent to migrate to Canada, Europe, or other Asian markets, impacting the United States' global talent competitiveness. Those with financial resources can pay $1 million for a "gold card" to quickly obtain US work permits, while companies can use $2 million to expedite the entry of employees. This prioritizes "high-capital, high-skilled" talent and weakens diversity.
The financial technology industry is also being shaken. Industries such as Silicon Valley and Wall Street in the United States are highly dependent on H-1B foreign talent. Trump's policies will tighten innovation, competitiveness and global capital flows.
