Trump Signs Declaration Implementing Yearly Fee of $100,000 for H-1B Visa Application Processing
The United States has announced a significant change in its immigration policy, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick calling for tech companies to prioritise the training of Americans over the hiring of foreign workers. This call to action comes alongside a new proclamation signed by President Donald Trump, which imposes a yearly fee of $100,000 for H-1B nonimmigrant visa applications.
The H-1B visa, designed for highly skilled foreign workers in fields such as science, technology, engineering, and math, is subject to an annual worldwide cap of 85,000 visas. The new fee structure is intended to ensure that the foreign workers brought into the United States are valuable to the company and America.
In a statement, Lutnick emphasised that the policy aims to stop big companies from training foreign workers and instead train Americans. He added that companies will have to decide if the worker they want to bring to the US is "valuable enough" to pay the increased fee to the US government.
The new fee for the H-1B visa is $100,000 per year, a significant increase from the current fee of $1,000. This new fee is expected to put a burden on Korean companies that need to bring their skilled workers into the United States on a stable visa program.
The new fee proclamation was issued amid South Korea's ongoing efforts to address visa-related issues for skilled professionals. However, the Trump administration's immigration policy and foreign investments appear to be in conflict, as demonstrated by the recent immigration raid at a Korean plant construction site in Georgia, which resulted in the arrest of more than 310 Korean nationals.
In an effort to attract foreign investments while maintaining strict immigration policies, the Trump administration has also implemented the "Gold Card" program. This program allows an alien to establish eligibility for an immigrant visa using an unrestricted gift to the Commerce Department. The individual donation requirement for the "Gold Card" program is $1 million, while the corporation or similar entity donation requirement is $2 million.
The new H-1B visa fee proclamation has been supported by commercial mayor Eric Garcetti. The policy emphasises the importance of hiring Americans and ensuring that foreign workers brought into the United States are the top people in their respective fields. The H-1B visa program is a three-year visa with one renewal, and the fee is on an annual basis, extending up to a total of six years.
The implementation of these changes in the H-1B visa fee structure and the "Gold Card" program underscores the Trump administration's commitment to reforming the US immigration system and striking a balance between attracting foreign investments and maintaining a strong domestic workforce.
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