US President Trump Increases H-1B Visa Application Fee To $100,000

US President Donald Trump has signed a new order raising the application fee for H-1B visas to $100,000, a sharp increase that could have major consequences for America’s technology sector.

The order was issued alongside the launch of a new “gold card” residency program, which offers fast-tracked US residency for $1 million or $2 million if paid by corporate sponsors.

“The main thing is, we’re going to have great people coming in, and they’re going to be paying,” Trump told reporters on Friday when he signed the orders in the Oval Office.

The H-1B visa program allows US companies to employ foreign professionals with specialized skills, including scientists, engineers, and programmers for an initial three-year period, renewable up to six years.

Every year, 85,000 slots are made available through a lottery, with Indian applicants receiving about 75 percent of them. Major US tech firms rely heavily on this pipeline of Indian talent to fill skill gaps.

Industry leaders, including billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, have previously warned against restrictions on H-1B visas, stressing that the US lacks enough domestic talent to fill critical jobs in technology and research.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who joined Trump at the signing, said, “All the big companies are on board.”

During Trump’s first term, his administration tried to restrict which jobs qualified for H-1B sponsorship, but courts struck down those efforts.

The new order marks the latest step in his broader immigration clampdown during his second term.

Under the rules, the $100,000 fee will apply to new applicants beginning Sunday.

However, the Secretary of Homeland Security will have the power to grant exemptions to certain individuals, companies, or industries. The order will remain in effect for one year, though Trump could extend it.

Demand for H-1B visas has soared in recent years, with approvals reaching a record high in 2022 under President Joe Biden.

In contrast, the rejection rate peaked in 2018 during Trump’s earlier term. In 2024, about 400,000 visas were approved, most of them renewals.

Trump argued that the new residency option will attract wealthy investors saying, “I think it’s going to be tremendously successful. “

KanyiDaily recalls that Nigeria and several other African countries were hit with a new 15% import tariff following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump.