Syed Saif Ul Hassan 
Sep 20, 2025
In what appears to be a discouraging move for talented and skilled aspirants of the US H-1B visa, US President Donald Trump has announced the enforcement of a $100,000 H-1B visa fee per application.
The newly imposed $100,000 H-1B visa fee is said to have stirred a wave of criticism and is expected to be legally challenged in the US.
Trump introduces $100,000 H-1B visa fee alongside $1m residency programme
The jaw-dropping $100,000 H-1B visa fee measure was publicised alongside a $1 million “gold card” residency programme that Trump originally previewed earlier this year.
“The main thing is, we’re going to have great people coming in, and they’re going to be paying,” said the US president while signing the orders in the Oval Office.
The move is viewed to be attracting unfavourable implications for the technology industry, which is heavily dependent on skilled foreign workers.
Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee: Here's what it means for US visa aspirants
For the unversed, it's noteworthy that the H-1B visa serves as a golden opportunity for those seeking a US visa, as it allows US-based companies to hire skilled foreign professionals, including engineers, scientists, and programmers, to work in the US for an initial three-year period. Contingent upon the employers, the visa is extendable to six years.
Each year, approximately 85,000 H-1B visas are issued, with Indian nationals comprising nearly three-quarters of the recipients, Reuters reported.
The H-1B visa fee is likely to bring unforeseen and significant difficulties in the face of the incumbent Trump-led administration, as some of the most prominent technology firms have long depended on this talent pool due to a shortage of local workers for specialised roles.
Business leaders, including Elon Musk, have condemned the move, stating that restrictions on the H-1B programme could stifle innovation and growth. The US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick remarked that “all the big companies are on board” with the new policy.
The fee is part of Trump’s wide-ranging immigration crackdown in his second term, following previous attempts to make amendments to the H-1B programme that faced legal setbacks.
Another notable aspect of the development is that the fee will apply to new entrants starting Sunday, with exemptions possible at the discretion of the Homeland Security secretary.
