Trump Proposes $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee

President Donald Trump is set to sign a proclamation introducing a sweeping overhaul of the H-1B visa program. The key changes include a new $100,000 fee for each H-1B visa and a directive for the United States — United States Department of Labor to revise prevailing wage levels. The administration argues that these changes are necessary to curb the 'overuse' and 'abuse' of the program, which they believe allows companies to hire lower-paid foreign workers, undercutting US salaries and displacing American workers. The technology industry, including major companies like Amazon (company), Microsoft, Apple Inc., and Alphabet Inc., is expected to be most affected, as they heavily rely on H-1B visas to fill critical roles. Staffing and outsourcing companies, such as Tata Consultancy Services, which account for a significant portion of H-1B visas, will also face substantial impacts. Critics of the current system argue that loopholes allow some firms to flood the lottery with multiple applications and place workers in lower-wage positions, despite the program's intent to bring highly skilled professionals for hard-to-fill jobs.