President Donald Trump signed a Friday announcement that requires a new annual fee of $ 100,000 H-1B visa applicationsTo reform the skilled workers program, which the administration says that American workers have been displaced.
Trade Minister Howard Lootnick said that the fees will be $ 100,000 per year, adding that “all major companies” on board.
“So you will no longer put the trainees on the H-1B visa,” Lootnick said in a call with the correspondents. “This is no longer economical anymore. If you are going to train people, you will train Americans … … If you have a very sophisticated engineer and want to bring them … you can pay $ 100,000 annually for your H-1B visa.”
Trump also ordered the Ministry of Labor to review the prevailing levels of the program to prevent employers from undermining American workers’ salariesI mentioned Bloomberg.
This step is particularly affecting the technology industry, which relies heavily on H-1B visas to fill in specialized positions. In a fact newspaper, the White House described the current system as a threat to national security, on the pretext that American workers are replaced by low -wage foreign action, Bloomberg said.
“The dynamic is the suppression of wages and the treatment of Americans from choosing functions in STEM fields,” the White House stated.
It is still unclear whether it is $ 100,000 in addition to the current costs, which currently include a lottery registration fee of $ 215 and wide fees of $ 780. The H-1B is dedicated to 85,000 visas annually through the lottery system.
Trump also announced that he will Start selling a “gold card” visa With a possible path to American citizenship. The “Trump Gold Card” will be available for processing fees and a million dollar contributions after checking. For companies, it will cost $ 2 million. Meanwhile, the “Trump Platinum Card” will be available for a $ 5 million contribution and will allow foreigners to spend up to 270 days in the United States without being subject to US tax on non -American income. Trump has announced a $ 5 million gold card in February to replace the current investor visa – this is the platinum card now. Applicants can now subscribe to obtain a waiting list for the platinum card, but it still must be approved by Congress.
What are H-1B visas?
H-1B visa, It was created in 1990It is allowed for employers to employ foreign workers with specialized skills and bachelor’s degrees for temporary residences.
The visas are valid for three years and can be extended once for six years. Recl refers should carry a bachelor’s degree or higher in their field of specialization. H-1B holders can also apply for a green card during the visa.
Immigration services decrease the number of new H-1B visas at 85,000 per fiscal year. In 2023, 72 % of the approved petitions for people born in India, 12 % for those in China, and 71 % went to men, according to the US Department of Internal Security.
Nearly 400,000 requests in the fiscal year 2024 were approved, most of which are for employment renewal, According to Bayu. Rejection rates increased in H-1B requests during the first period of Trump, but decreased during the era of former President Joe Biden.
Amazon was the owner of the employer With most workers H-1B It has been approved every year since 2020, According to Bayu. Many of the other major employers offer IT and business services services, including CGNIZANT, Infosys, Tata Consultance Services and Google.
What do critics say about H-1B visas?
Critics have argued all over the political spectrum that the program is undermining American workers, while supporters say it fills the work of the workforce in high positions.
Last year, Musk defended the H-1B program, where he wrote on X: “The reason I am in America alongside many important people who built Spacex and Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong because of H1B.”
Supporters argue that the H-1B program helps the United States to maintain a competitive advantage, while critics claim that it undermines wages for Americans.
Former presidential candidate Nikki Haley posted on X, “If the technology industry needs workers, invest in our educational system. Invest in the American workforce. We must invest in Americans first before searching elsewhere.”
In response to critics, Musk suggested repairs to the H-1B program, including raising the minimum salary requirements for low-cost employment abuse.
Newsnation Tom Dempsey The Associated Press contributed to this report.