Washington, D.C. — The White House is preparing to impose a $100,000(≈ ₹83.2 lakh) application fee for H-1B visas, a move critics warn could reshape the technology workforce and discourage foreign talent.
President Donald Trump is expected to sign a proclamation on Friday, according to a senior White House official. The official said the measure is intended to curb abuse of the visa system and its alleged role in undercutting American jobs.
A Historic Fee Hike
The proposed fee represents an unprecedented increase from the current charges — a $215(≈ ₹17,900) lottery registration and $780(≈ ₹64,900) Form I-129 filing fee. It remains unclear whether the $100,000(≈ ₹83.2 lakh) fee would replace or be added to existing costs, potentially making the true price of entry even higher.
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The administration argues the hefty barrier will reduce frivolous or exploitative applications, particularly by outsourcing and staffing companies accused of flooding the lottery with multiple entries for low-cost workers.
Linking Immigration to National Security
The White House frames the change as part of a national-security and economic protection strategy. A document reviewed by Bloomberg reportedly describes the replacement of American workers with lower-cost foreign labour as both a security threat and a factor that discourages U.S. students from pursuing STEM careers.
Alongside the proclamation, the Labour Secretary will be directed to revise wage rules governing the H-1B programme, tightening standards to ensure American workers are not underpaid or displaced.
Tech Industry in the Crosshairs
The technology sector is expected to feel the sharpest shock. Companies like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and numerous startups depend heavily on H-1B visas to recruit foreign engineers, researchers, and developers.
Analysts say the new cost could price out smaller firms and startups, leaving only deep-pocketed corporations able to afford global talent. Critics fear the policy could accelerate offshoring of tech work rather than protecting domestic jobs.
A Wider Immigration Crackdown
The $100,000(≈ ₹83.2 lakh) H-1B fee aligns with a broader Trump-era push to raise immigration fees across the board. Costs for work permits, asylum applications, and other visa categories are also set to rise, with revenues earmarked for detention facilities, expanded border barriers, and additional enforcement personnel.
Immigration advocates argue that the changes will restrict access to the U.S. for skilled migrants while failing to address long-standing issues such as backlogs, inequities in the lottery system, and employer dependence on contract staffing.
The Road Ahead
The U.S. grants 85,000 H-1B visas annually through a lottery, with demand consistently exceeding supply. Critics argue that rather than reforming the lottery to prevent abuse, the administration is effectively pricing out legitimate applicants.
Legal experts say the policy is likely to face challenges in court, especially if businesses claim it unfairly undermines their ability to compete in a global talent market.
For now, the looming proclamation has sparked alarm in Silicon Valley and beyond, as companies and foreign professionals brace for a dramatic shift in America’s immigration landscape.
