Trump administration to impose a $100,000-per-year fee for H-1B visas

The Trump administration has introduced a new executive order that imposes a $100,000-per-year fee for H-1B visa applications. The fee applies to new visa applicants who are currently outside the United States, with exceptions made on a case-by-case basis if it is deemed in the national interest. The administration argues that some employers, particularly in the tech industry, have abused the H-1B system to "artificially suppress wages" and disadvantage American workers. The new fee is intended to address this issue. The executive order also introduces a new "Gold Card" visa program, which provides expedited immigrant visas to individuals who can afford a "requisite gift" of $1 million for individuals or $2 million for corporations. This program is aimed at attracting successful entrepreneurs, investors, and businesspeople to the United States. The new H-1B visa fee and the "Gold Card" program are likely to face legal challenges, and the impact on the tech industry, which heavily relies on H-1B visas, remains to be seen.