TL/DR –
President Donald Trump has enforced an annual $100,000 application fee for H-1B visas, primarily used by tech companies to employ foreign workers, and initiated a $1 million ‘gold card’ offering residency for foreigners. The fees are part of a larger initiative to prioritize US workers over foreign workers, which also includes large-scale deportation of undocumented immigrants and ending the acceptance of asylum seekers while their cases are pending. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick stated that the high fees would ensure that only the most skilled workers remained permanently in the US.
Trump’s Visa Fees Strategy Favoring U.S. Workers Over Immigrants
President Donald Trump has imposed a $100,000 annual fee for special visas, widely used by technology companies to bring in foreign workers. This move is part of Trump’s broader strategy to favor U.S. workers over foreign-born ones and signals a crackdown on immigration.
Additionally, he has signed an executive order to create a “gold card” for foreigners. The card, costing $1 million, allows holders to stay in the U.S. permanently, similar to the function of green cards. “It’s going to hopefully bring some great people to our country,” Trump said.
Trump’s visa fees strategy comes amidst a wider crackdown on immigration, which includes mass deportations and an end to allowing asylum seekers into the U.S. while their cases are under review. The State Department’s recent announcement revealed a requirement of a $15,000 bond for visa holders under a new program.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that green cards are presently granted to 281,000 people annually, earning an average $66,000. The gold card fee will ensure that only the best workers stay in the U.S. permanently. “We’re going to only take extraordinary people at the very top,” Lutnick added.
Lutnick also mentioned tech companies support the $100,000 annual fee to sponsor top-tier workers. “All of the big companies are on board,” he said.
The federal government grants 85,000 H-1B visas annually, majorly for tech jobs. Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta each had thousands of visas approved this year.
The H-1B visa program facilitates employment in specialty occupations, primarily in technology. The visas are sanctioned for three to six years, with India and China being the major beneficiaries.
However, critics argue that H-1B visa workers are used by companies to suppress wages and overlook American job seekers.
Source: Reuters
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