U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday sharply increasing the application fee for H-1B visas to $100,000, a dramatic escalation in restrictions on skilled foreign workers. The H-1B program, first introduced in 1990, has long been a central channel for American companies—especially in the technology sector—to hire highly skilled workers from abroad, primarily from India and other parts of Asia.
The new policy marks the most sweeping change to the visa program in decades. White House officials told American media outlets that the executive order could also be accompanied by revisions to prevailing wage rules, further tightening restrictions on employers seeking to hire foreign workers.
The H-1B program has long been controversial, viewed by tech companies as essential to innovation but criticized by immigration hardliners who argue it undercuts American workers by allowing companies to hire cheaper labor from overseas. Trump’s order is widely seen as a concession to the latter group, cementing his alignment with his traditional base.
The issue has been a point of tension within Trump’s coalition since his return to office. Following the 2024 election, reports surfaced that Elon Musk and other new allies from the tech world had lobbied Trump to expand the H-1B program. That lobbying effort, however, sparked backlash from conservative factions of the president’s base. Musk publicly defended the program, prompting Trump to briefly signal support. Still, the executive order signed Friday represents a decisive shift back toward the hardline wing of his movement.
Trump himself has previously acknowledged employing H-1B workers at his businesses and at times has argued the U.S. needs foreign talent, particularly in fields such as artificial intelligence. Yet the scale of the fee increase—from around $1,000 to $100,000—signals an intention to significantly reduce applications.
Analysts note that for many companies, the cost of paying the higher fee may outweigh the savings from hiring foreign workers at lower wages. As a result, businesses may be pressured to increase pay for American workers rather than incur the steep costs of recruiting foreign labor.