U.S. President Donald Trump on September 19, 2025, signed a proclamation dramatically increasing the annual application fee for H-1B visas to $100,000. The administration described the measure as part of its broader effort to overhaul immigration policy and prioritize American workers.
White House staff secretary Will Scharf said the H-1B program, which allows U.S. companies to hire foreign professionals in specialized fields, had become “one of the most abused” components of the system. The steep fee hike, officials argued, will ensure that only companies seeking “extraordinary” talent will sponsor applications, rather than using the program to replace domestic workers.
Indian professionals are expected to be among the most affected, as Indian-origin technology firms account for roughly 20% of H-1B issuances each year. Trump, while signing the order in the Oval Office alongside Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, said the move would protect U.S. jobs while still attracting highly skilled innovators.
Lutnick added that the measure could generate more than $100 billion in revenue for the U.S. treasury, while ending what he called the admission of workers from “the bottom quartile” of wage earners. The proclamation marks one of the most sweeping changes to the visa program in decades.
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