U.S. President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on Friday, September 19, introducing a $100,000 fee for all H-1B visa applications, a White House official confirmed.
The move is the latest in the administration’s crackdown on immigration, aimed at limiting access to the visa program to wealthier applicants.
Under the new order, applicants will be denied entry unless the fee is paid. The administration argues that the H-1B program — which brings hundreds of thousands of skilled workers to the U.S. each year — allows companies to undercut wages for American employees.
Industry experts warn the policy could hurt the tech sector, which depends heavily on foreign talent from India and China. “If the U.S. ceases to attract the best talent, it drastically reduces its ability to innovate and grow the economy,” said Deedy Das, partner at Menlo Ventures, on X.
While Big Tech firms like Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta may absorb the added costs, smaller companies and start-ups could be squeezed. Roughly two-thirds of H-1B jobs are in computer-related fields, though the program also brings in engineers, educators, and healthcare workers.
India was the top beneficiary of H-1B visas last year, accounting for 71% of approvals, followed by China at 11.7%. In the first half of 2025 alone, Amazon secured over 10,000 approvals, while Microsoft and Meta each received more than 5,000.
