Washington — U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order introducing a $100,000 fee for applicants under the H-1B visa program, a move that has drawn strong criticism from businesses and immigration advocates.
The order, which comes into effect on September 21, applies only to future applicants in the February 2026 lottery who are outside the United States. Existing visa holders will not be affected, according to White House officials.
The H-1B program, capped at 85,000 visas annually, allows U.S. companies to hire skilled foreign workers, particularly in the tech sector. Until now, fees for applications were around $1,500. The sharp increase has alarmed both employers and immigration lawyers, who say it could devastate smaller firms that rely on international talent.
“This $100,000 as an entry point is going to have a devastating impact,” said immigration lawyer Tahmina Watson, noting that many small and medium-sized businesses already struggle to find skilled workers domestically.
Tech giants such as Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Google have been among the largest users of the H-1B system. Amazon advised its employees on H-1B visas to remain in the U.S. before the order took effect, warning that those abroad might face re-entry issues.
India, which accounted for 71% of approved H-1B visas last year, expressed concern through its trade body Nasscom, saying the order created “considerable uncertainty for businesses, professionals, and students across the world.” China ranked second with 11.7% of approved applications.
Supporters of the order argue it will curb abuse of the program and prioritize American workers. “The company needs to decide — is the person valuable enough to have a $100,000-a-year payment, or should they hire an American?” said U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
However, business leaders warn the policy could undermine U.S. competitiveness. Jorge Lopez, a global mobility expert, said the fee “will put the brakes on American competitiveness in the tech sector and all industries.” Some companies may even shift operations abroad to cope with the change.
The move revives long-standing debates over the H-1B system, which critics say undercuts U.S. wages, but which advocates argue is essential for innovation and economic growth.
During his earlier campaign, Trump had promised to make it easier for U.S. firms to recruit top international graduates, even suggesting automatic green cards for highly educated workers. His latest executive order, however, signals a harder line on skilled immigration.
