By Abiola Olawale
United States President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications, targeting the high-skilled worker program.
The new policy was announced on Friday from the Oval Office, in Washington, United States.
Trump declared that the new policy is aimed at prioritizing American workers and generating billions in revenue.
“The main thing is, we’re going to have great people coming in, and they’re going to be paying,” Trump told reporters as he signed the orders in the Oval Office.
The New Diplomat reports that the H-1B visa program, established in 1990, allows US companies to hire foreign professionals in specialty occupations like engineering, computer science, and medicine.
Capped at 85,000 visas annually—65,000 standard plus 20,000 for advanced degree holders—the program operates on a lottery system due to overwhelming demand.
Employers foot the bill for fees, which previously ranged from a few thousand dollars, but this new mandate requires $100,000 per year per visa for its three- to six-year duration.
According to Trump’s order, the fee will be required for those seeking to enter the country beginning Sunday, with the Homeland Security secretary able to exempt individuals, entire companies, or entire industries.
The order expires in a year, though Trump can extend it.
