Trump Administration Announces $100,000 Fee on New H-1B Visa Applications
On September 19, 2025, the Trump administration unveiled a new policy imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applicants. This significant change targets the visa program that is foundational to the U.S. technology workforce.
According to White House officials, the fee applies exclusively to new visa applicants in the upcoming lottery cycle and does not affect renewals or current visa holders. Contrary to earlier media reports, this is a one-time charge rather than an annual fee.
Immediate Industry Response
Leading technology and financial firms swiftly reacted to the announcement, advising their H-1B and H-4 visa holders to remain within the United States and minimize international travel due to the uncertain immigration landscape.
- Amazon instructed visa holders abroad to return before 12:01 a.m. ET on September 21.
- JPMorgan Chase recommended employees on H-1B visas avoid international travel until further notice.
- Goldman Sachs cautioned H-1B visa holders to exercise travel prudence based on immigration services guidance.
- Microsoft echoed similar advisories urging visa holders to stay in the U.S. to safeguard their immigration status.
Context and Implications of the Fee
This fee represents the Trump administration’s most assertive effort to restrict legal immigration since taking office in January 2025. The administration has pursued broad immigration reforms, but this move specifically targets employment-based visas, particularly affecting sectors reliant on highly skilled foreign workers.
Major U.S. companies depend extensively on H-1B visa holders. Amazon employs over 14,000 H-1B workers, while Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Google each have over 4,000 visa holders as of the fiscal year 2025.
“President Trump promised to put American workers first, and this commonsense action does just that by discouraging companies from spamming the system and driving down wages,” said White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers. “It also gives certainty to American businesses who actually want to bring high-skilled workers to our great country but have been trampled on by abuses of the system.”
Global Impact and Foreign Government Responses
The announcement has generated concern beyond U.S. borders. Foreign governments are evaluating the potential consequences for their citizens and industries.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs emphasized the shared interest between Indian and American industries in fostering innovation and warned of potential humanitarian disruptions caused by the new fee, particularly affecting families.
“This measure is likely to have humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families. Government hopes that these disruptions can be addressed suitably by the US authorities,” the Indian Ministry said.
South Korea’s foreign ministry also indicated it is assessing the policy’s impact on Korean companies and skilled workers reliant on H-1B visas.
FinOracleAI — Market View
The introduction of a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications marks a pivotal shift in U.S. immigration policy with far-reaching implications for the technology and finance sectors.
This policy is designed to reduce visa program abuses and support American workers by discouraging excessive reliance on foreign labor at lower wages. However, it introduces substantial operational and strategic challenges for companies that have integrated highly skilled immigrant talent into their workforce.
- Opportunities: Potential wage growth for domestic workers; reduced visa system exploitation; clearer guidelines for high-skilled immigration.
- Risks: Talent shortages in critical sectors; disruptions to multinational workforce mobility; strained relations with foreign governments; potential slowdown in innovation and competitiveness.
Impact: The fee imposes immediate operational risks for affected companies and may slow the inflow of global talent, challenging the U.S. tech sector’s growth trajectory while underscoring the administration’s prioritization of domestic labor interests.
