Trump Shocks With Massive Visa Fee Hike

Immigration has long been a contentious issue in U.S. politics, touching on economics, culture, and national identity.

Former President Donald Trump recently reignited the debate with changes to the H-1B visa program. His executive order increased the annual application fee from \$1,500 to \$100,000, affecting both foreign professionals and the companies that depend on them.

The H-1B program, created in 1990, allows U.S. employers to hire skilled foreign workers in specialized fields like engineering, medicine, and technology. The program caps visas at 85,000 per year, with demand consistently exceeding supply.

Major tech companies—including Google, Microsoft, and Tesla—have relied heavily on the program to maintain innovation and global competitiveness. The new fee structure could impose costs of up to \$600,000 per worker over six years, not counting salaries or legal expenses.

This change threatens startups, small businesses, and nonprofits, potentially limiting their access to international talent. Even large corporations may restrict hiring under the new fees to only the highest-level candidates, which could reduce workforce diversity and skill breadth.

Adding to the controversy, Trump introduced a “gold card” visa program, granting expedited entry to ultra-wealthy applicants for a \$1 million fee.

Critics argue this approach favors wealth over merit, excluding middle-class skilled professionals while benefiting the richest applicants, and raising concerns about fairness and equity in U.S. immigration policy.