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President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order imposing a $100,000 application fee on H-1B visas, in one of his administration’s most sweeping efforts yet to restrict legal immigration and push companies to hire more American workers.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said the policy would “ensure we get the best workers” while discouraging what he described as overuse of the program. The proclamation bars entry under H-1B visas unless employers pay the hefty fee, which would apply annually or in a lump sum covering the visa’s initial three-year term.
“We need great workers, and this pretty much ensures that that’s what’s going to happen,” Trump said.
H-1B crackdown
The H-1B visa program allows 65,000 skilled foreign workers to enter the U.S. each year, with another 20,000 slots for those with advanced U.S. degrees. Tech firms and other industries rely heavily on the program to hire engineers, scientists, and other specialized employees.
Economists argue the visas help U.S. businesses grow and create more jobs domestically. But Trump has long criticized the program, accusing companies of exploiting it to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the $100,000 fee was set after consultations with industry, though the administration is still weighing whether to charge the full $300,000 upfront for a three-year visa or spread it out in annual payments. “We want the structure to be clear, fair, and ensure accountability,” Lutnick said.
The ‘gold card’ pathway
Alongside the H-1B changes, Trump also announced the creation of a new “gold card” visa track designed to fast-track applications for wealthy immigrants and entrepreneurs.
The program will allow individuals to secure expedited permanent residency for a $1 million fee, while companies can pay $2 million to sponsor a foreign worker. Lutnick, who spearheaded the idea, said the goal is to attract “extraordinary people at the very top” rather than what he characterized as the “bottom quartile” of foreign applicants under the current green card system.
Trump called the gold card a way to “bring in the innovators, the investors, the job creators,” positioning it as a complement to his broader effort to tilt immigration policy toward high earners and away from low-wage labor.
Divided signals
Trump’s stance on H-1Bs has shifted repeatedly. He restricted visas during his first term and again in 2020, citing the COVID-19 economy. Yet during his 2024 campaign, he expressed support for giving foreign graduates of U.S. universities a path to legal status. In December, he told the New York Post he was “a believer in H-1B.”
That mixed messaging has divided his political base. Influential allies like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have defended the program, drawing backlash from hardline Trump supporters who want stricter immigration limits.
Industry and economic fallout
Tech companies are expected to be hardest hit by the new $100,000 fee, which could dramatically increase costs for startups and large firms alike. The policy also comes as demand for H-1Bs far exceeds supply, triggering annual lotteries.
Critics say the fee structure could restrict access to foreign talent and reduce U.S. competitiveness, while proponents argue it will force companies to prioritize American hires.
The executive order takes effect retroactively to Jan. 1, 2025.
