Imposes Annuals Fees of $100,000 for H-1B Visa Applications by Trump
The H-1B visa, traditionally distributed through a lottery system, has seen significant changes in recent years. This year, Amazon emerged as the top recipient of H-1B visas, with more than 10,000 awards.
The shift in the lottery system, implemented in 2020, limited each employee to one shot at the lottery, regardless of the number of job offers. This change, along with others, has been met with mixed reactions. The AFL-CIO, for instance, praised some steps taken but expressed the need for further reforms.
One of the most notable changes was the introduction of a hefty visa fee for highly-skilled foreign workers. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation in 2020, requiring a $100,000 annual visa fee. This fee is a stark increase from the previous $215. The fee for investor visas will also climb from $10,000-$20,000 a year.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick predicted that these changes would likely result in fewer H-1B visas due to economic reasons. The visa fee hike for skilled workers could potentially deter companies from hiring foreign workers, especially for roles that may not command high salaries.
In an effort to attract high-wage companies, the labor group has proposed a system where visas are awarded to companies that pay the highest wages, rather than through a random lottery.
The Trump administration's crackdown on free speech and targeting of the media has raised concerns about the potential impact on journalism. News outlets like The HuffPost continue to rely on reader support to provide unflinching, fact-based journalism during these uncertain times. The HuffPost newsroom was bolstered by initial reader support, and the outlet continues to need it to maintain its commitment to truth and accuracy.
The changes in the H-1B visa policy have also seen the introduction of a $1 million "gold card" visa, intended as a pathway to U.S. citizenship for wealthy individuals. This gold card is designed to replace employment-based visas that offer paths to citizenship, including for professors, scientists, artists, and athletes.
A more exclusive offering, the "Trump Platinum Card," was introduced in 2024. This card, available for a $5 million fee, allows foreigners to spend up to 270 days in the U.S. without U.S. taxes on non-U.S. income. However, there is no available information on the number of visas issued under this card since its introduction.
It's worth noting that the first lady, Melania Trump, was granted an H-1B work visa in October 1996 to work as a model.
The geographical distribution of H-1B workers shows that California has the highest number of H-1B workers. This trend may change as the visa policy evolves, but for now, it provides a snapshot of the current landscape of H-1B workers in the United States.
This article was reported from Oakland, Calif. by Ortutay, with contributions from Associated Press writers Adriana Gomez Licon and Elliot Spagat.
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