Hyderabad: U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday signed an executive order raising the H-1B visa application fee to $100,000 (₹88 lakh). The new rate marks a dramatic jump from the earlier fee range of ₹1 lakh to ₹6 lakh.
The decision is part of a broader overhaul of U.S. immigration policy. It includes the launch of premium residency options like the Trump Gold Card, Trump Platinum Card, and Corporate Gold Card. The Gold Card, priced at ₹8.8 crore, offers unlimited residency without granting citizenship or voting rights.
New H-1B visa fee may deter mid-level Indian professionals
The steep fee is expected to impact foreign nationals significantly, particularly Indian IT professionals. Under the revised system, U.S. firms can hire only the most highly skilled workers. Major companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and JP Morgan have reportedly advised their H-1B employees to stay in the U.S. Some urged staff abroad to return before the order took effect.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the country issues around 281,000 green cards each year, mostly to individuals earning an average of $66,000. “Many of them depend on public support,” he said.
Lutnick added that firms are willing to pay the new H-1B fee but urged them to train American graduates instead. “Stop bringing in outsiders to take American jobs,” he said.
The Trump Gold Card will replace EB-1 and EB-2 categories and be issued only to individuals deemed economically beneficial to the U.S. The government plans to release 80,000 Gold Cards initially, aiming to raise $100 billion in revenue.
Trump said the new regime targets wealthy foreigners ready to invest at least $1 million to live and work in the U.S. He claimed the funds would help reduce taxes and national debt.
The H-1B visa allows skilled professionals in IT, healthcare, and architecture to work in the U.S. for up to six years. Renewal fees, previously capped at ₹6 lakh, may also rise to ₹88 lakh per cycle. A final decision is awaited.
Each year, the U.S. issues 85,000 H-1B visas, mostly for tech roles. In 2024, Amazon received over 10,000, while Microsoft and Meta secured more than 5,000 each.
India remains the top recipient, with 191,000 H-1B visas in 2023 and 207,000 in 2024. With 71% of all holders being Indian, the revised fees could make on-site U.S. roles unviable for entry- and mid-level professionals. Companies may increasingly shift to outsourcing as a result.
For the past four years, open-border Democrats endlessly flooded the country with illegal aliens at the expense of hardworking Americans.
The Trump administration is completely reversing course on that disastrous agenda. These programs guarantee that recipients who come to work…
— Howard Lutnick (@howardlutnick) September 20, 2025
