The Trump administration has announced a significant increase in the annual fee for H-1B visa applications, which allows companies to hire foreign workers with specialized skills. The new fee of $100,000 will be paid by companies sponsoring visas, and its purpose is to encourage American workers.
The H-1B program was introduced in 1990 to address labor shortages in skilled fields like IT, healthcare, and engineering. It grants a temporary visa for three years and can be extended up to six years. There are approximately 730,000 H-1B holders in the US, with an additional 550,000 dependents.
The new fee is intended to discourage companies from hiring foreign workers by making it more expensive. However, this move has sparked controversy among experts and business leaders. Economists warn that higher costs may lead to weaker economic growth and a potential “brain drain” as skilled international graduates leave the US.
Some prominent tech industry leaders, including Elon Musk and Sundar Pichai, were previously H-1B visa holders. However, others, like Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, have praised Trump’s move, saying it will allocate visas for high-value jobs and eliminate the lottery system.
The fee applies only to new applicants, not current or renewing visa holders. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that H-1B visa holders can leave and re-enter the country without being charged the increased fee.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/22/trump-h1b-visa-fee-explainer