Trump introduces visa fee, companies invite workers home
US President Donald Trump has ordered a $100,000 (€85,000) fee for issuing visas for highly skilled foreign workers to work in the US. The decision could have significant consequences, especially for the US technology sector, which employs most of the recipients of these visas.
“The main thing is that great individuals come to the United States and that they pay,” Donald Trump said . reporters at the White House.
The H-1B visa allows foreign workers with specialized skills, such as scientists, engineers, and computer programmers, to work in the United States for a period of three years, with the possibility of extension to six years.
The US awards 85,000 of these visas annually through a lottery, with three-quarters of the recipients being Indian nationals, who are mainly employed by companies in the technology sector.
Tech executives, including former Trump ally Elon Musk , are warning of the consequences of Trump’s order, arguing that the United States alone does not have enough domestic talent to fill key jobs in the technology sector.
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick , on the other hand, said that “all major companies” support the changes.
According to Trump’s executive order, the fee will go into effect on Sunday, and the Secretary of Homeland Security will be able to exempt individuals, businesses, or industries from paying it.
The number of H-1B visa applications has increased significantly in recent years, peaking in 2022 under former Democratic President Joe Biden. On the other hand, the highest number of rejections was in 2018, during Trump’s first term as president.
The US approved approximately 400,000 H-1B visas last year, two-thirds of which were extensions.
Trump also signed an executive order on Friday that, among other things, introduces an accelerated path to permanent residency in the US for individuals who pay a fee of one million US dollars (850,000 euros).
Call for workers to come home
Tech companies such as Amazon, Meta, Microsoft and JPMorgan are urging foreign workers currently in other countries to return to the US within 24 hours.
Those planning to travel abroad are advised not to leave the United States for now.
Company executives fear that hiring foreign workers could become much more expensive or even impossible in the future if they want to return to the US after a stay abroad.
Indian non-governmental trade association Nasscom has also expressed concern about the introduction of the high fee, saying the measure will primarily affect technology companies, which employ most of the recipients of these visas.
They are also concerned about the short timeframe, with the new fees coming into effect on Sunday. “A one-day deadline creates significant uncertainty for businesses, professionals and students around the world. Policy changes of this magnitude are best introduced with appropriate transition periods that allow organizations and individuals to plan effectively and minimize negative impacts,” they said in a statement.
