United States President Donald Trump has signed a broad executive order imposing a $100,000 annual fee on companies seeking H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers. This new policy, reported by the BBC, is set to take effect on September 21, 2025.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick emphasized that companies must weigh the value of foreign workers against the hefty fee, stating, “Companies need to decide — is the person valuable enough to have a $100,000-a-year payment to the government, or should they head home and go hire an American?” He noted that all major companies are supportive of the change.

The new fee applies to all new H-1B visa applications and must be paid annually for up to six years. Currently, the program is capped at 85,000 visas per year and has been a vital resource for tech firms and startups seeking educated foreign talent, with existing fees totaling approximately $1,500.

Critics argue that this measure could severely undermine U.S. competitiveness in the global economy, particularly in the tech sector. Immigration attorney Tahmina Watson remarked, “This $100,000 as an entry point is going to have a devastating impact. Almost everyone’s going to be priced out. Many small or medium-sized companies simply can’t find qualified Americans to do the job.”

Additionally, the executive order introduces a “gold card” system that offers fast-track immigration for high-net-worth individuals in exchange for fees starting at £1 million. Last month, a pilot program requiring bonds of up to $15,000 for certain tourist and business visas was implemented, and a travel ban restricting entry from 12 nations was announced in June.