Trump Announces a Major Hike in H-1B Visa Annual Fees

• 24 Sep 2025
• 238 Views

On 19 September, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to raise the fee for H-1B visas to a staggering $100,000 annually. Depending on the size of the company applying for the visa, the fees previously ranged from $2,000 to $5,000. This move is the Trump administration’s latest move to crack down on immigration. It could have an adverse impact on Indian professionals on visas in the U.S.

American Attorney and White House Staff Secretary, Will Scharf, stated that the H-1B non-immigrant visa program is one of the most abused visa systems in the country’s immigration framework. This program is intended to allow highly skilled workers, who occupy roles that Americans typically do not fill, to come to United States. 

The Trump administration indicated that the $100,000 fee is designed to ensure that the individuals being brought into the country are genuinely highly skilled and do not replace American workers. This initiative aims to protect American workers while also providing companies with a means to hire truly exceptional talent and bring it to the United States. Companies are required to pay to sponsor H-1B applicants.

As Mr. Trump signed the proclamation in Oval Office in presence of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, he said, “We need workers. We need workers. We need great workers, and this pretty much ensures that that’s what’s going to happen.” 

According to Mr. Lutnick, historically, the employment-based Green Card programme let in 2,81,000 people a year. These people made an income of $66,000 a year on average and were five times more likely to participate in assistance programmes of government. He said, “So we were taking in the bottom quartile, below the average American. It was illogical; it was the only country in the world that was taking in the bottom quartile.” 

He added, “We are going to stop doing that. We’re going to only take extraordinary people at the very top, instead of those trying to take jobs from Americans. They’re going to create businesses and create jobs for Americans. And this programme will raise more than $100 billion for the treasury of the United States.” 

Mr Trump said that US will use that amount to cut taxes and pay down debt. He said, “We think it’s going to be very successful.” Mr. Lutnick added that a $100,000 fee will be charged annually.

The recent change is anticipated to majorly affect Indian technology workers who are employed by tech companies and other organizations on H-1B visas. These visas are initially valid for three years and can be renewed for another three years. If a company sponsors an employee for a Green Card, then H-1B visa can be renewed until permanent residency is granted. 

However, many Indians on work visas in the U.S. are facing a lengthy wait for Green Cards. This new policy could influence their ability to remain in U.S., especially if their employers choose not to pay the newly imposed annual fee of $100,000 required for maintaining visas.

“So the whole idea is, no more will these big tech companies or other big companies train foreign workers. They have to pay the government $100,000, then they have to pay the employee. So it’s just not economic. If you’re going to train somebody, you’re going to train one of the recent graduates from one of the great universities across our land, train Americans. Stop bringing in people to take our jobs. That’s the policy here. And all of the big companies are on board. We’ve spoken to them about it,” Mr. Lutnick said.

Source: The Hindu