Trump Slams H-1B Visas with $100,000 Fee, Targeting Program That Launched Tech Giants

Trump Hits H-1B Visas with $100,000 Fee, Targeting Program That Launched Elon Musk and Instagram In a move aimed at curbing what it calls widespread abuse of the program, President Trump signed a proclamation Friday requiring employers to pay a hefty $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa applications. The White House announced the change, which marks a significant increase from the current $215 lottery registration fee. The H-1B program allows U.S. companies to hire foreign workers in fields that typically require technical expertise like IT, engineering, mathematics, or medicine. The visas are awarded through a lottery system and typically last three years, though holders can extend them or apply for green cards. According to the White House, the share of IT workers with H-1B visas has skyrocketed from 32 in 2003 to over 65 today. The administration's new move is designed to crack down on what it calls widespread abuse of the program, which it blames for displacing American workers. "This is a necessary step to protect American workers and ensure that our immigration system serves the interests of U.S. citizens," said a White House spokesperson. The H-1B program has been a contentious issue in recent years, with critics arguing that it allows companies to exploit foreign workers at the expense of American laborers. Proponents of the program, however, argue that it is essential for filling skills gaps and driving innovation in the tech industry. Silicon Valley, which relies heavily on H-1B visas to staff its companies, is likely to be impacted by the new fee. "This will have a chilling effect on our ability to attract top talent from around the world," said a spokesperson for the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. "We urge the administration to reconsider this decision and find alternative solutions that balance the needs of American workers with the needs of the tech industry." The H-1B program has been instrumental in launching the careers of several prominent tech entrepreneurs, including Elon Musk and Kevin Systrom, co-founder of Instagram. According to a report by the National Foundation for American Policy, 85% of Fortune 500 companies use H-1B visas. The new fee will take effect immediately, and employers will be required to pay the $100,000 fee in addition to the existing lottery registration fee. The administration has not yet announced any plans to cap the number of H-1B visas awarded annually or to implement other changes to the program. As the tech industry grapples with the implications of this new policy, one thing is clear: the future of the H-1B program hangs in the balance. *Reporting by Techcrunch.*