Trump signs executive order imposing $100,000 H-1B visa fee and introduces 'gold card' fast-track

President Donald Trump signed an executive order that would impose a $100,000 entry fee on applicants seeking H-1B visas, a program used to bring skilled workers into technology, engineering and other high-demand fields. The proclamation also describes a separate, high-cost fast-track option dubbed a “gold card” for certain immigrants, with fees starting at about £1 million. The White House said the measures are intended to curb abuse of the program and to ensure that foreign workers are brought in only when they meet explicit needs that cannot be met domestically.

Joining Trump in the Oval Office for the announcement was Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. He framed the policy as part of a broader push to prioritize American workers, saying, "A hundred thousand dollars a year for H1-B visas, and all of the big companies are on board. We've spoken to them. If you're going to train somebody, you're going to train one of the recent graduates from one of the great universities across our land. Train Americans. Stop bringing in people to take our jobs." The administration stressed that the new rules would restrict entry unless the required payments were made and that the program would be subject to ongoing review.

Supporters, including billionaire Elon Musk, have argued that the H-1B program helps the United States attract top global talent and that reforms are necessary to ensure American workers aren’t displaced. Critics say the steep new fee would price out startups and smaller businesses that rely on foreign specialists to fill specialized roles, potentially hindering innovation and competitiveness in tech and other sectors. Industry observers noted that the policy would add to a broader set of immigration measures under consideration by the administration.

Background on the H-1B program indicates that, since 2004, the annual cap for affected visas has been set at 85,000. Before the latest move, applicants faced administrative fees totaling roughly $1,500 in addition to the base filing costs. Data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services show that applications for H-1B visas for the next fiscal year stood at about 359,000—a four-year low compared with recent peaks, suggesting broad impact from existing uncertainty and policy changes across the industry.

The biggest beneficiaries of the H-1B program in the prior fiscal year included Amazon, followed by Tata, Microsoft, Meta, Apple and Google, according to government statistics. The BBC reported on the current matter and reached out to representatives from those companies for comment. Tahmina Watson, a founding attorney at Watson Immigration Law, said the ruling could be a “nail in the coffin” for many small businesses and startups. “Almost everyone's going to be priced out. This $100,000 as an entry point is going to have a devastating impact,” Watson said, noting that many small or medium-sized companies “will tell you they actually can't find workers to do the job.” Jorge Lopez, chair of the immigration and global mobility practice group at Littler Mendelson PC, warned that a $100,000 fee could “put the brakes on American competitiveness in the tech sector and all industries.”

The debate over H-1Bs has long exposed fault lines within the administration. Some supporters of the program argued that it is essential for maintaining a pipeline of highly skilled workers, while critics contended that it undermines the domestic labor market and suppresses wages in certain sectors. The policy comes amid a broader discussion about how the United States should balance immigration with domestic training and workforce development. In recent years, the administration has pursued a tightening approach to skilled-immigration at various points, drawing attention to fraud, abuse and national-security considerations.

Historical context noted by observers includes an early-term move in 2017 to increase scrutiny of H-1B applications, which followed criticism from some policymakers and industry groups about fraud and misrepresentation. In the 2018 fiscal year, rejection rates climbed to about 24%, compared with lower rates under previous administrations, before easing somewhat under subsequent policy iterations. Those prior steps illustrate the long-running tension between expanding access to skilled labor and protecting American workers. The administration’s current measures reiterate that a balance is sought between attracting foreign talent and prioritizing domestic workforce opportunities.

India has been among the nations most affected by H-1B policy changes in recent years, given that it has been the largest source country for applicants. The government and industry groups in India have closely watched U.S. actions, emphasizing the potential impact on trade and tech partnerships if skilled-immigration channels become less accessible. Analysts say the latest move could push some companies to reconsider their offshore operations or to restructure hiring strategies, though practical implementation will determine the real-world consequences for hiring practices and project timelines.

For now, the executive order signals a notable shift in the administration’s approach to skilled immigration, combining a high entry barrier with a premium fast-track option for certain immigrants. The measure aims to address perceived abuses while asserting a prioritization of American workers and domestic training. The policy’s actual impact on hiring, innovation and global competitiveness will depend on how it is implemented, enforced and received by the wider business community and the public over the coming months.