Trump signs proclamation imposing $100,000 annual fee for H-1B visa applications

US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation that imposes a $100,000 annual fee on companies for each H-1B visa application under the skilled worker visa program representing a huge jump from the existing fees, which are typically much lower.

Under the new policy, companies sponsoring foreign workers in specialty occupations including in technology, engineering, and other STEM fields must pay the elevated fee each year.

White House staff secretary Will Scharf described the H-1B program as among the “most abused” parts of the US immigration system, noting that it was originally intended to bring in highly skilled workers for jobs that Americans typically do not fill.

Alongside this fee change, Trump also introduced a “Gold Card” visa option, which requires a $1 million investment by wealthy individuals as a pathway to US permanent residency.

A higher-tier “Platinum Card” visa, costing $5 million, was also unveiled for those who meet specific criteria including staying periods and tax treatments on non-US income.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that all major companies had been briefed about the revised H-1B fee requirement. He framed the changes as part of an effort to ensure that foreign-skilled workers brought in under the visa program are “very highly skilled” and not individuals that might undercut American workers.

Critics and legal experts have already expressed concerns that the policy may face legal challenges. Among the concerns are whether the executive branch has the authority to impose such a high annual fee on the visa process without Congressional approval.

The fee change is expected to reduce the number of H-1B visa applications, particularly from companies that previously benefited from lower cost entry for foreign skilled labor. The requirement for such a high fee annually may make the cost of sponsoring foreign workers prohibitively expensive for many firms.

Details released indicate that the proclamation applies to new visa petitions and possibly renewals, and that employer-sponsors will need to comply with documentation, payment verification, and other compliance requirements under the new rule.

The announcement is being viewed as part of a broader Trump administration push to overhaul legal immigration, emphasizing higher costs, stricter requirements, and prioritization of high compensation and skill levels for foreign workers.