Trump raises H-1B visa fee to $100,000 annually for skilled worker applicants

US President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order imposing a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers. Alongside, he unveiled new “gold card” and “platinum card” visas priced in the millions.

The executive order significantly raises the cost of visas. For H-1B holders, who are highly skilled employees often recruited by US technology firms, annual fees would soar from just $215 to $100,000.

“We need great workers, and this pretty much ensures that that's what's going to happen,” Trump said on Friday.

"Everyone's going to be happy, and we're going to be able to keep people in our country that are going to be very productive people,” he said, adding, “And in many cases, these companies are going to pay a lot of money for that, and they're very happy about it.”

Trump’s new visa program, however, introduces an alternative for the rich. A $1 million “gold card” visa promises a pathway to US citizenship after vetting, while companies sponsoring employees under the scheme would pay $2 million.

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At the top tier, the “platinum card” carries a $5 million price tag, offering up to 270 days of residence in the US annually without taxation on overseas income.

Critics argue the measures are designed to benefit the wealthy while restricting opportunities for skilled workers. H-1B visas, which require at least a bachelor’s degree, have long filled crucial gaps in sectors like technology.

Yet detractors claim the program suppresses wages, with foreign workers often earning $60,000 a year, well below the six-figure salaries paid to American employees.

California hosts the largest share of H-1B visa workers, with Indian applicants making up the majority, 71% of all approved beneficiaries. China followed far behind at 11.7%, government data shows.

The measures are expected to face legal challenges, with critics accusing the president of bypassing Congress. Still, Trump’s allies have hailed the plan. The US Tech Workers group, a long-time opponent of the H-1B program, called the move the “next best step” after eliminating the visas altogether.