The United States has announced a major shake-up in its H-1B visa rules. On Friday, they introduced a hefty annual fee of $100,000 (nearly ₹90 lakhs) for companies seeking to hire foreign employees. President Donald Trump revealed the move on Friday, calling it a step towards tightening the visa program and reshaping how businesses employ overseas talent.
US Announces $100k Fee On H-1B Visas
According to Hindustan Times, US President Donald Trump has introduced a massive $100,000 annual fee for H-1B visa applications. While addressing the media at the White House, the US Commerce Secretary said that the move is aimed at encouraging companies to hire more American talent while reducing reliance on less skilled foreign workers.
After this announcement, the annual fee that companies pay to sponsor H-1B visa applicants will go up to $100,000, which is almost ₹90 lakhs. Currently, applying for an H-1B visa involves $215 (₹19,000 approx.) lottery registration fee, $780 (₹68,711) Form I-129 fee, plus other filing charges.
Experts believe this new change will heavily impact the technology sector as it depends on skilled workers from India and China. This change is also being viewed as the Trump administration’s most high-profile effort to overhaul temporary work visas in the USA. Data shows that India accounted for 71% of approved H-1B visas last year, with China second at 11.7%.
All About ‘Gold Card’ Residency
The Indian Express reported that the US President also signed a separate executive order creating a ‘Gold Card’ program on Friday. Under this initiative, individuals can secure permanent residency by paying $1 million, while companies can fast-track residency for a sponsored worker with a $2 million payment. With this, the US hopes to attract entrepreneurs and high earners.
What are your thoughts on this recent $100K fee imposed by the US on H-1B visa applications? Let us know in the comments.
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