Trump announces $100,000 fee for certain visas

A senior White House official confirmed on Friday that Donald Trump was preparing to impose a $100,000 fee on H1-B work visas, which he has had in his sights for years. These visas allow foreign workers with specific qualifications (scientists, engineers and computer programmers, among others) to come and work in the United States, and are issued overwhelmingly to Indian nationals.

 

These work permits are for an initial period of three years, extendable to six years, for foreigners sponsored by an employer.

  

The number of H-1B visa applications has risen sharply in recent years, with a peak in acceptances in 2022 under the presidency of Democrat Joe Biden. In contrast, the peak in refusals was recorded in 2018, during Donald Trump's first stint in the White House. The US approved around 400,000 H-1B visas in 2024, two-thirds of which were renewals.