Washington, D.C.: In a dramatic escalation of his immigration crackdown, United States President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation imposing a staggering $100,000 (over ₹88 lakh) fee on H-1B visa applicants. The move, framed as a measure to protect American jobs and ensure only the “highly skilled” are admitted, has sent shockwaves through the global technology sector—particularly India, which accounts for the majority of H-1B visa holders.
The H-1B program has long been a cornerstone of the U.S. tech industry, allowing companies to bring in specialized talent from overseas, especially in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). But Trump’s latest measure could deter applicants and burden companies with sky-high costs.
Aiming at “Skill over Numbers”
Explaining the rationale, President Trump insisted that the policy is not designed to shut doors but to raise standards. “We need workers. We need great workers, and this pretty much ensures that’s what’s going to happen,” Trump said.
White House staff secretary Will Scharf echoed the President’s stance, describing the H-1B visa as one of the “most abused” in the current immigration system. “By raising the fee to $100,000, companies will think twice before sponsoring candidates. This ensures only the very best and irreplaceable workers are brought in, instead of cheaper labor to replace Americans,” Scharf said.
What is the H-1B Visa?
The H-1B visa, introduced in 1990, allows U.S. companies to hire foreign professionals in specialized roles. Applicants must hold at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in fields deemed difficult to fill locally.
Visas are typically granted for three years, with the option to extend up to six. Holders who eventually secure permanent residency, or a Green Card, can renew indefinitely. Selection is conducted through a lottery system overseen by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), though the Trump administration has hinted at broader reforms to reduce reliance on random draws.
Once granted, H-1B visas guarantee foreign workers equal pay and working conditions comparable to their American counterparts.
India Faces the Hardest Hit
No country stands to be more affected than India. According to official figures, Indians accounted for 71 percent of H-1B beneficiaries in the previous year. China followed distantly with 11.7 percent.
Major tech firms such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta are among the biggest employers of H-1B visa holders. In the first half of 2025 alone, Amazon and its cloud subsidiary AWS secured approvals for more than 12,000 visas, while Microsoft and Meta each had over 5,000.
With Trump’s policy, Indian professionals aspiring to work in the U.S. face unprecedented hurdles. Each visa renewal—which is often required due to the backlog in Green Card processing—would now cost upwards of ₹88 lakh, making the American dream far less accessible for middle-class families.
More Barriers: Citizenship Test Returns
The proclamation also revives a stricter citizenship test, first introduced by Trump in 2020 but later rolled back under President Joe Biden. Applicants must now study a pool of 128 questions on U.S. history and politics and answer at least 12 out of 20 correctly in an oral examination.
Analysts warn that these changes collectively raise the bar for immigration and naturalization, signaling Trump’s broader goal of reshaping the profile of who gets to enter and stay in America.
The “Gold Card” Visa Program
Alongside the H-1B overhaul, Trump also unveiled a premium alternative: the so-called “Gold Card” visa. The program sets entry fees at $1 million for individuals and $2 million for businesses, with the stated aim of attracting “extraordinary people at the very top.”
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick praised the initiative, emphasizing that it would prioritize wealth creators and innovators. “For too long, the employment-based green card program was illogical. We were admitting people in the bottom quartile of earnings, averaging $66,000 a year, many of whom relied on government assistance. With the Gold Card, we are reversing that trend,” Lutnick said.
Trump described the program as a way to raise billions in revenue, which he claims will go toward reducing taxes and paying off national debt.
While supporters of the move hail it as a step toward safeguarding American workers, critics argue that it could cripple the tech industry, which depends heavily on global talent. Indian IT associations expressed concern that the costs would exclude qualified but less wealthy applicants, creating an uneven playing field.
Immigration experts also warned that the higher fees would not necessarily guarantee higher skill levels, but rather privilege those who can afford to pay.
