Trump Slaps $100,000 Fee on Skilled Worker Visa Applicants Amid Visa Crackdown
In a move aimed at cracking down on the use of skilled foreign worker visas, President Donald Trump has introduced a $100,000 annual fee for applicants to the H-1B visa program. The new fee is intended to deter companies from relying heavily on foreign workers and encourage them to hire American citizens instead.
According to an executive order signed by Trump, the additional fee will be imposed on skilled worker visa applicants under the H-1B programme, citing "abuse" of the system. Critics argue that the increased cost will disproportionately affect small businesses and startups, while supporters claim it will help protect domestic jobs and attract top talent through a new "gold card" system for high-skilled immigrants.
The move has sparked debate over its impact on attracting top talent and undercutting American workers. "We need great workers," Trump said in a statement accompanying the executive order. "But we also need to make sure that our immigration system is fair and serves the interests of American citizens."
According to the White House, the new fee will be used to fund a new "gold card" program for high-skilled immigrants who pay fees ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. The gold card program aims to fast-track visas for certain immigrants in exchange for fees.
Critics of the move argue that it will further limit access to visas for foreign workers and hurt small businesses and startups that rely heavily on H-1B visas. "This is a huge burden on small businesses and startups," said an anonymous source at a major tech company, according to BBC Breaking. "It's going to be very difficult for us to continue hiring foreign workers under the current system."
Supporters of the move argue that it will help protect domestic jobs and encourage companies to hire American citizens instead of relying on foreign workers. "This is a necessary measure to prioritize domestic job training," said a spokesperson for the Trump administration, according to BBC World.
The new fee has been met with opposition from some lawmakers who argue that it will disproportionately affect small businesses and startups. "We need to be careful not to over-regulate our immigration system," said Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in a statement. "This move could have unintended consequences for our economy."
According to the executive order, the new fee will take effect immediately, with applications subject to the additional cost from January 1st of next year. The move is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to crack down on immigration and prioritize domestic job training.
As the debate over the impact of the new fee continues, one thing is clear: the future of skilled foreign worker visas in the US has become increasingly uncertain.
This story was compiled from reports by BBC World, BREAKING: BBC Breaking and BBC World.
