Trump administration to add $100k fee for H-1B visas
10 hours ago
- #Tech Industry
- #H-1B Visa
- #Immigration Policy
- Trump administration adds a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications.
- Executive order bars H-1B workers from entering the U.S. without paying the new fee.
- Tech giants like Amazon, IBM, Microsoft, and Google will be impacted by the fee.
- H-1B visas currently cost between $1,700 and $4,500, typically paid by employers.
- Critics argue H-1B visas allow companies to hire foreign workers at lower wages than Americans.
- Amazon was the top recipient of H-1B visas in 2024, followed by Tata Consultancy, Microsoft, Apple, and Google.
- White House claims the fee will protect American workers while allowing companies to hire highly skilled foreigners.
- Experts warn the fee could push U.S. companies to move jobs overseas and deter international students.
- H-1B visas are capped at 65,000 annually, with an additional 20,000 for those with master's degrees or higher.
- Only about 20% of H-1B applications are approved, making it the most restrictive U.S. visa program.