Trump Administration’s $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee Proposal: A Look Back at a Contentious Immigration Policy

During the Trump administration, a significant policy shift targeting the H-1B visa program was proposed, aiming to add a substantial $100,000 fee to existing application costs. This executive order, signed by then-President Trump, was designed to impact companies heavily reliant on the program to attract highly skilled foreign workers, including technology giants like Amazon, IBM, Microsoft, and Google.

The proposed additional charge would have dramatically increased the cost of H-1B visas, which already ranged from approximately $1,700 to $4,500. President Trump stated the measure was intended to ensure that only highly productive individuals, deemed irreplaceable by American workers, would enter the U.S., thereby protecting domestic jobs.

However, the plan drew criticism, with experts like Stuart Anderson from the National Foundation for American Policy warning of potential negative repercussions. Concerns were raised that such a high fee could incentivize U.S. companies to shift jobs overseas, particularly in specialized fields like research and development, and deter international students from pursuing education in the U.S. due to limited post-graduation work opportunities.

At the time, the H-1B program was already the most restrictive visa program in the U.S., with a low approval rate. The administration also planned to update wage levels for the program to ensure fair compensation relative to American workers. This policy proposal highlights a period of intense debate over immigration and skilled labor in the United States.

阅读中文版 (Read Chinese Version)

Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.