Trump Executive Order: $100,000/year H‑1B Fee and “Gold Card” Program
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that introduces a $100,000 annual fee for employers sponsoring new H‑1B visa hires—payable for each beneficiary for up to six years. The White House says the fee targets alleged abuses of the H‑1B program that have suppressed wages. The order reportedly applies to new outside‑the‑U.S. applicants and allows case‑by‑case exemptions for national‑interest cases.
Key details
- H‑1B fee: $100,000 per year, per new H‑1B hire, up to six years.
- Applies to: Reportedly new applicants (lottery winners) coming from abroad; not stated to apply to extensions/transfers.
- Gold Card: New expedited immigrant visa program requiring large donations: $1M individual or $2M corporate (as described by the administration).
- Exemptions: The rule allows case‑by‑case national‑interest exemptions.
Who could be affected?
Sectors that heavily use H‑1B visas include technology and retail. Companies known to employ large numbers of H‑1B workers include:
- Amazon
- Microsoft
- Meta
- Apple
- Walmart
- Intel
- IBM
- NVIDIA
Implications
If implemented, the fee could sharply raise the cost of hiring foreign tech talent, potentially slowing hiring or prompting legal challenges. The policy may also incentivize appeals and litigation over the executive branch’s authority to impose such fees.
Legal outlook
Observers expect lawsuits arguing the executive order exceeds statutory authority, improperly changes immigration rules, or violates administrative procedure. Any implementation could be blocked or delayed by courts.
Source
Original reporting: Engadget
Note: This post summarizes initial reports and may be updated as official documents and additional reporting become available.