Trump To Overhaul H-1B Visa Program, Add $100,000 Fee For Applications

2025-09-19 11:19:09

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

US President Donald Trump plans to introduce a new $100,000 application fee for H-1B worker visas in an effort to reduce their use as part of his broader immigration crackdown, a White House official said.

The Republican president was expected to sign a proclamation as early as Friday restricting entry under the H-1B visa program unless the application fee is paid, the official said, according to Bloomberg. Trump also planned to order changes to the prevailing-wage levels for the H-1B program as a way to limit their use, the official said.

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The H-1B program has become critical for technology and staffing companies who rely on foreign workers to fill a variety of technical roles.

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Amazon had over 10,000 H-1B visas approved in 2025, while Microsoft and Meta Platforms had over 5,000 H-1B visa approvals each, according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Shares of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp, an IT services company that relies extensively on H-1B visa holders, fell over 5% on Friday.

Critics of the visas, including many American technology workers, argue companies use H-1B visa workers to suppress wages and pass over Americans for jobs they may otherwise be qualified for.

India was the largest beneficiary of H-1B visas last year, accounting for 71% of approved beneficiaries, while China was a distant second at 11.7%, according to government data.

The H-1B visa program is reserved for people who are employed in specialty occupations, frequently in the technology field. They can include software engineers, tech program managers and other IT professionals. The H-1B visas are approved for a period of three to six years.

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