Trump signs executive order adding a $100,000 fee to new H-1B petitions (one-time)
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that imposes a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions. The White House later clarified — via Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt — that the fee is a one-time payment applied to the petition and is not an annual charge.
Key points
- One-time fee: The administration says the $100,000 charge applies only once to the petition, not per year.
- Applies to new applicants outside the U.S.: The rule targets new H-1B applicants who are currently outside the United States; current H-1B holders and renewals are exempt.
- Exemptions and national interest: The Secretary of Homeland Security can grant case-by-case exemptions if it’s in the national interest.
- Legal challenges likely: Experts expect litigation, and guidance on implementation and payment procedures is still forthcoming.
- Gold Card program: The order also launches a new “Gold Card” expedited immigrant program requiring a donation to the Department of Commerce — reported as $1,000,000 for individuals and $2,000,000 for corporations donating on behalf of applicants.
Why it matters
The H-1B program is widely used by U.S. tech companies to hire foreign skilled workers. Major employers with high numbers of H-1B workers include Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Apple and Google. If implemented as described, the fee could reduce new H-1B hiring and impact the tech sector.
Statements
“To be clear: This is NOT an annual fee. It’s a one-time fee that applies only to the petition.” — Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary
Sources & further reading
- Analysis: Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck — overview & guidance status
- White House briefing clip (Karoline Leavitt clarification)
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