Summary
President Donald Trump announced a new policy requiring a $100,000 fee for applications for the H-1B visa, which lets U.S. employers hire skilled foreign workers temporarily. This move could greatly affect American technology companies and the states that rely on these workers. The new fee applies only to new applications, not to current visa holders or renewals.
Key Facts
- The H-1B visa allows U.S. companies to hire foreign workers in specialized fields, like technology.
- A new $100,000 application fee has been introduced to reduce what the government says are abuses of the visa program.
- About 71% of H-1B visa holders are from India, with China accounting for 12%.
- As of June 2023, over 280,000 H-1B visas were approved, with California having the highest number.
- Amazon is the largest employer of H-1B workers in the U.S., followed by Tata Consultancy Services, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Google.
- The new fee applies to new applicants only, not to existing visa holders or those renewing.
- The median salary for new H-1B visa holders in 2023 was $94,000, making the fee challenging for some employers and workers.
