'Fast and furious': H-1B workers abroad race to US as Trump order sparks dismay, confusion
Trump announced a new $100,000 fee for H-1B visas
Aditya Soni and Echo Wang
Sun, September 21, 2025
Donald Trump speaks during a visit to the world headquarters of Snap-On Inc, a tool manufacturer in Kenosha
SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK (Reuters) -Panic, confusion, and anger reigned as workers on H-1B visas from India and China were forced to abandon travel plans and rush back to the U.S. after President Donald Trump imposed new visa fees, in line with his wide-ranging immigration crackdown.
Tech companies and banks sent urgent memos to employees, advising them to return before a deadline of 12:01 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time Sunday (4:01 am GMT), and telling them not to leave the country.
A White House official on Saturday clarified that the order applied only to new applicants and not holders of existing visas or those seeking renewals, addressing some of the confusion over who would be affected by the order.
But Trump's proclamation a day before had already set off alarm bells in Silicon Valley.
RUSH BACK TO U.S.
Fearing they would not be allowed back once the new rule took effect, several Indian nationals at San Francisco airport said they cut short vacations.
“It is a situation where we had to choose between family and staying here," said an engineer at a large tech company whose wife had been on an Emirates flight from San Francisco to Dubai that was scheduled to depart at 5:05 p.m. local time (12:05 a.m. GMT) on Friday
The flight was delayed by more than three hours after several Indian passengers who received news of the order or memos from their employers demanded to deplane, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity. At least five passengers were eventually allowed off, said the engineer.
A video of the incident was circulating on social media, showing a few people leaving the plane. Reuters could not independently verify the veracity of the video.
The engineer's wife, also a H-1B visa holder, chose to head to India to care for her sick mother. "It's quite tragic. We have built a life here,” he told Reuters.
On the popular Chinese social media app Rednote, people on H-1B visas shared their experiences of having to rush back to the U.S. - in some cases just hours after landing in China or another country.
Some likened the panic they felt to their experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, when they urgently flew back to the U.S. before a travel ban took effect.
"My feelings are a mix of disappointment, sadness, and frustration," said one woman in a post with a user handle "Emily's Life in NY."
The woman said she had boarded a United Airlines flight from New York to Paris, which started taxing, but after some back-and-forth with the airline the captain agreed to return to the gate to let her off the aircraft.
Feeling what she described to Reuters as "insignificant" and "shaken," she canceled the planned trip to France, abandoning plans with friends, including some who were flying in from China, after she received a letter from her company’s lawyers asking employees abroad to return to the U.S.
Companies including Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet and Goldman Sachs were among those that sent urgent emails to their employees with travel advisories.
TRUMP'S U-TURN ON H-1B
Since taking office in January, Trump has kicked off a wide-ranging immigration crackdown, including moves to limit some forms of legal immigration.
This step to reshape the H-1B visa program represents his administration's most high-profile effort yet to rework temporary employment visas and underscores what critics have said is a protectionist agenda.
It is a U-turn from Trump's earlier stance when he sided with one-time ally and Tesla CEO Elon Musk in a public dispute over the use of the H-1B visa, saying he fully backed the program for foreign tech workers even though it was opposed by some of his supporters.
Trump administration officials say the visa allows companies to suppress wages, and curbing it opens more jobs for American tech workers. Supporters of the program argue that it brings in highly skilled workers essential to filling talent gaps and keeping firms competitive.
In the hours following Trump's proclamation, social media was flooded with debate on the scope of the order and dismay at what many saw as a move that dimmed America's lure as an attractive destination to work in.
An anonymous user on Rednote said their life was like that of a "H-1B slave." The person cut short a holiday in Tokyo to rush back to the United States, describing it as "a real-life 'Fast & Furious' return to the U.S.," a reference to the hit Hollywood series about street racing.
The Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, could exempt petitioners from the fee at her discretion, the proclamation said.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Friday said companies would have to pay $100,000 per year for H-1B worker visas.
However, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X on Saturday that this was not an annual fee, only a one-time fee that applied to each new petition.
India was the largest beneficiary of H-1B visas last year, accounting for 71% of approved beneficiaries, while China was a distant second at 11.7%, according to government data.
Amid the confusion, Rohan Singh, who works as a manufacturing engineer in North Carolina, cancelled his plan to visit India. "There is panic among H-1B visa holders because we do not know what’s ahead," the 30-year-old said
A Nvidia engineer, who has lived in the U.S. for 10 years, told Reuters at the San Francisco airport that he had been vacationing in Japan with his wife and infant when he rushed to reschedule his return flight after hearing the news.
"It feels surreal," he said. "Everything is changing in an instant.”
(Reporting by Aditya Soni in San Francisco and Echo Wang in New York; Additional reporting by Haripriya Suresh and Rishika Sadam in India; Writing by Sayantani Ghosh; Editing by Michael Perry)
White House says Trump's H-1B visa changes will only affect new applicants
Brent D. Griffiths,Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert
Sat, September 20, 2025
INSIDER
A White House official said that the $100,000 H-1B visa fee only applies to new applicants.
Amid uncertainty, tech companies have urged H-1B holders to return to the US.
President Donald Trump says he was imposing the new fee to prevent abuse of the visa.
After Trump announced a new $100,000 fee for H-1B visas in an executive order on Friday, stakeholders scrambled to understand who exactly it impacts.
A White House official told Business Insider on Saturday that the fee will only apply to new applicants, not current lawful H-1B visa holders.
"This is a one-time fee that applies only to the petition," a White House official told Business Insider in an email. "It ONLY applies to new visas, not renewals or current visa holders. It will first apply in the next upcoming lottery cycle."
On Saturday afternoon, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X that the increased fee does not impact H-1B holders' eligibility to leave the country and re-enter.
"Those who already hold H-1B visas and are currently outside of the country right now will NOT be charged $100,000 to re-enter," Leavitt wrote. "H-1B visa holders can leave and re-enter the country to the same extent as they normally would; whatever ability they have to do that is not impacted by yesterday's proclamation."
On Saturday afternoon, USCIS issued a memo, which was posted on X, clarifying the new requirements for the H-1B visa process and reiterating the press secretary's statement that the new rules do not apply to current visa holders.
Trump's executive order does not include such explicit language. The statements that the fee will not apply to renewals also contradict what Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told reporters on Friday in the Oval Office.
"Renewals, first times, the company needs to decide," Lutnick said in response to a question about the fee's application. "Do they want — is the person valuable enough to have a $100,000 a year payment to the government or they should head home, and they should go hire an American."
Amid the uncertainty, Amazon and Microsoft have urged H-1B visa holders who are now abroad to return to the United States before Trump's order goes into effect on September 21.
"If you have H-1B or H-4 status and are outside the U.S.: Try to return before tomorrow's deadline if possible," Amazon said in a memo to staff on Friday. "We realize this is short notice but returning soon is advisable and you should make every effort possible to clear U.S. customs before 12:00 a.m. EDT (9:00 p.m. PDT) on Sunday, September 21, 2025."
Microsoft sent a similar notice to its employees.
Trump and Lutnick said the executive order was needed to prevent abuse of the H-1B visa program. Tech companies have historically used H-1B visas to hire skilled foreign workers.
A White House official said that the $100,000 H-1B visa fee only applies to new applicants.
Amid uncertainty, tech companies have urged H-1B holders to return to the US.
President Donald Trump says he was imposing the new fee to prevent abuse of the visa.
After Trump announced a new $100,000 fee for H-1B visas in an executive order on Friday, stakeholders scrambled to understand who exactly it impacts.
A White House official told Business Insider on Saturday that the fee will only apply to new applicants, not current lawful H-1B visa holders.
"This is a one-time fee that applies only to the petition," a White House official told Business Insider in an email. "It ONLY applies to new visas, not renewals or current visa holders. It will first apply in the next upcoming lottery cycle."
On Saturday afternoon, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X that the increased fee does not impact H-1B holders' eligibility to leave the country and re-enter.
"Those who already hold H-1B visas and are currently outside of the country right now will NOT be charged $100,000 to re-enter," Leavitt wrote. "H-1B visa holders can leave and re-enter the country to the same extent as they normally would; whatever ability they have to do that is not impacted by yesterday's proclamation."
On Saturday afternoon, USCIS issued a memo, which was posted on X, clarifying the new requirements for the H-1B visa process and reiterating the press secretary's statement that the new rules do not apply to current visa holders.
Trump's executive order does not include such explicit language. The statements that the fee will not apply to renewals also contradict what Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told reporters on Friday in the Oval Office.
"Renewals, first times, the company needs to decide," Lutnick said in response to a question about the fee's application. "Do they want — is the person valuable enough to have a $100,000 a year payment to the government or they should head home, and they should go hire an American."
Amid the uncertainty, Amazon and Microsoft have urged H-1B visa holders who are now abroad to return to the United States before Trump's order goes into effect on September 21.
"If you have H-1B or H-4 status and are outside the U.S.: Try to return before tomorrow's deadline if possible," Amazon said in a memo to staff on Friday. "We realize this is short notice but returning soon is advisable and you should make every effort possible to clear U.S. customs before 12:00 a.m. EDT (9:00 p.m. PDT) on Sunday, September 21, 2025."
Microsoft sent a similar notice to its employees.
Trump and Lutnick said the executive order was needed to prevent abuse of the H-1B visa program. Tech companies have historically used H-1B visas to hire skilled foreign workers.
3 tech workers on H-1B visas detail their last 36 hours: canceled trips, anxious parents, and, finally, relief
Shubhangi Goel
Sun, September 21, 2025
Business Insider
President Donald Trump's H-1B visa fee order sparked panic among tech workers in the US.
Trump announced a new $100,000 visa fee on Friday, prompting some companies to urge visa holders to return to the US.
Some techies say they are canceling travel plans and reconsidering their lives in the US.
On Friday, the White House announced a new $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications, sparking a wave of confusion and panic as companies and workers scrambled to make sense of the order.
Three tech workers from across the US explained how they spent Friday night and Saturday.
Two spoke on the condition of anonymity because they feared retaliation for speaking to the media; Business Insider has verified their identities.
1. Sherin Sunny, a senior software engineering manager at Walmart
I studied engineering back home in India and got recruited into a US-based tech company straight out of college.
After working at the company's Indian operations for about three years, I was given the opportunity to transfer to the US because I was one of the few people familiar with the technology and their customers.
I received my H-1B right away and moved to the US in 2013.
The green card backlog for Indian-born applicants has kept me on an H-1B for 12 years, with no clear end in sight.
I first saw the news that the president had signed a proclamation for a $100,000 H-1B visa fee on Friday.
The last 36 hours have felt like being on call for a production outage, except the system being debugged is my career.
At first, it wasn't clear whether this applied to new H-1B applications, renewals, or even H-4 dependents, such as my wife. I was also worried about who would have to pay the fees — employees or their companies — and if firms would be willing or able to pay this fee for thousands of H-1B workers.
I have been constantly checking YouTube, LinkedIn, and the White House official channels for clearer instructions
Many companies have already advised employees to avoid travel, and some friends who were abroad on H-1Bs have even been asked to return before September 21st.
I saw my friends who were visiting India book last-minute flights to get back to the US after calls with their human resource teams. Everyone was stressed about them not being able to come back to the US.
I was planning to travel to India for vacation, but I need to rethink that because of the uncertainty around whether current visa stampings will be impacted.
My sister, who recently gave birth, also planned to travel soon, but canceled her trip this weekend. She would have been flying back with my mother, who was visiting us, and I had to scramble to find someone who could make the trip back to India with our mom.
The White House's update that it would only impact people in the next lottery cycle brought a lot of relief.
The anxiety of this weekend and the lack of a clear pathway to a more permanent residency are now making us rethink things.
We might decide that if it's getting harder to live on the H-1B, it's better to go back to our home country rather than being stressed out in the US.
2. A Big Tech software engineer on the West Coast
I moved from India to the US a decade ago to pursue a master's in engineering. I've been with my current company since graduating from the program.
I received my H-1B visa on my third try in the lottery. I was anxious leading up to it and had already started exploring what my fallback options could be.
I found out about the new White House order on the H-1B visa on Friday from friends who began checking up on me and whether the new rules would affect me.
I opened ChatGPT and asked what exactly the order was, what criteria of H-1B holders it affected, and if there were any changes to alternative visas like the E-B1 or E-B2. More than H-1B, I was hoping there were no changes to the green card routes.
I was planning a holiday in a couple of months, but I've punted planning that trip and buying tickets. It doesn't make sense for me to book something and then not be allowed to travel.
The White House's clarification about how the new rules only apply to new applicants was definitely relieving.
After years in the US, my spouse and I have the mindset of not letting these changes affect us too much. We say that if we're here temporarily, let's make the most of it and continue to grow in our careers by making ourselves more indispensable.
But in the past year, I've started to explore ways I can build a more credible profile so that I qualify for more expedited green card options.
Since the administration changed, I've also been making sure we are renewing our documents and getting our passport stampings done proactively and not waiting until the last minute.
It's made me feel the pain of new graduates and how difficult it would be for them to come to the US, pay off student loans, and get an opportunity to find an employer that would be supportive of them working here.
That will be a big challenge, at least for the next 12 months, but I'm hoping people are still supportive of the highly skilled talent that comes through.
3. A software engineer in Bay Area tech
I came to the US in 2018 to pursue my master's in computer engineering.
I was fortunate enough to get my H-1B visa on my first attempt when I was still in graduate school.
Even though I did not move from India with the expectation to stay in the US long term, I felt relieved to get the visa and thought it gave me an option to stay longer if I wanted.
I've worked for multiple Big Tech companies since graduating and am currently a software engineer at a tech firm based in Silicon Valley.
It's been a tough 36 hours.
I was wrapping up work on a Friday evening and solving a client issue when a friend called and started telling me about what was going on.
I instantly started Googling and reading about it, trying to figure out what exactly had happened.
I was troubled because I am going through an H-1B extension right now, and I thought I would be impacted.
I spoke to my wife, who was out of town for the weekend, and we decided she should not travel back to India for her visa stamping. We're waiting for things to cool down before booking any tickets.
After our call, I was frustrated, so I went to play pickleball with my friends to work out some of those emotions.
I came home to a call from my mom back in India. My parents heard the news, and they asked me what was going on and why I didn't just leave the US and work somewhere else. I told them we should wait for things to settle down before making a big decision.
My friends, most of whom work at Nvidia, Google, and Microsoft, are all in the same boat. At dinner after the game, we chatted about the new order and what we should do.
That night, I watched webinars from immigration and employment lawyers to try to make sense of the proclamation. I told myself that there was not much I could do right now besides going to sleep.
New guidance from the immigration authority about existing H-1B holders has made me feel like I'm off the hook, but my wife and I are still waiting for more confirmation before making travel plans.
My reason to come to the US was that it's the heart of innovation. But I was doing well in my previous role in India before I came for my master's, and I've been thinking about whether it makes sense to live here long term.
I've started thinking about options such as the Global Talent visa in the UK or opportunities in Singapore.
Being in Silicon Valley is rewarding from a work perspective, because the people here are at the top of their game, but now it feels like, is it really worth it?
White House scrambles to clear up H-1B visa confusion after panic throws corporate America into chaos overnight
Jason Ma
Sat, September 20, 2025
FORTUNE
President Donald Trump delivers remarks alongside a poster of the "Trump Gold Card" before signing an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House on Friday.
President Donald Trump’s $100,000 fee for H-1B visas sowed mass confusion and panic among top U.S. companies overnight, forcing the White House to clarify the requirements.
On Saturday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt took to X to explain which visa holders the fee applies to and when.
“This is NOT an annual fee,” she said. “It’s a one-time fee that applies only to the petition.”
Leavitt added that existing H-1B holders currently outside the U.S. will not be charged $100,000 to come back, and that they can continue to leave and re-enter as they do right now.
Trump’s new H-1B policy also applies only to new visas, not renewals for current holders, she explained, noting that it will take effect in the next lottery cycle.
On Friday, Trump signed a proclamation that imposes a $100,000 fee for H-1B visas and announced a $1 million “gold card” visa that can serve as a pathway for wealthy investors to gain U.S. citizenship.
At the time, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested the fee, which kicks in at 12:01 a.m. ET on Sunday, would be annual.
When asked if the policy applies to existing holders, he replied that companies with H-1B employees must ask “Is the person valuable enough to have a $100,000 a year payment to the government? Or they should head home and go hire an American?”
That caused U.S. tech giants, which rely heavily on H-1Bs, to warn employees with those visas against foreign travel.
Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon and others told affected employees to return to the U.S. on Saturday and cancel any plans to leave the U.S.
“While we don’t have all the answers right now, we ask that you prioritize the recommendations above,” a message from Microsoft said, according to Bloomberg.
Top banks JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs sent similar messages to employees on H-1B visas, according to the Financial Times.
H-1B visas had previously been a divisive issue in Trump’s circle. Late last year, before falling out with the president, Elon Musk called for more highly skilled workers as did and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. But MAGA hardliners have demanded that U.S. companies hire more American workers.
In a reply to a post taunting him about H-1Bs, the South African-born Musk hit back sharply.
“The reason I’m in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla, and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B,” he wrote in December. “Take a big step back and F–K YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend.”
This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Hiring H-1B visa workers may cost $100K more with Trump's latest executive order
President Donald Trump delivers remarks alongside a poster of the "Trump Gold Card" before signing an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House on Friday.
President Donald Trump’s $100,000 fee for H-1B visas sowed mass confusion and panic among top U.S. companies overnight, forcing the White House to clarify the requirements.
On Saturday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt took to X to explain which visa holders the fee applies to and when.
“This is NOT an annual fee,” she said. “It’s a one-time fee that applies only to the petition.”
Leavitt added that existing H-1B holders currently outside the U.S. will not be charged $100,000 to come back, and that they can continue to leave and re-enter as they do right now.
Trump’s new H-1B policy also applies only to new visas, not renewals for current holders, she explained, noting that it will take effect in the next lottery cycle.
On Friday, Trump signed a proclamation that imposes a $100,000 fee for H-1B visas and announced a $1 million “gold card” visa that can serve as a pathway for wealthy investors to gain U.S. citizenship.
At the time, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested the fee, which kicks in at 12:01 a.m. ET on Sunday, would be annual.
When asked if the policy applies to existing holders, he replied that companies with H-1B employees must ask “Is the person valuable enough to have a $100,000 a year payment to the government? Or they should head home and go hire an American?”
That caused U.S. tech giants, which rely heavily on H-1Bs, to warn employees with those visas against foreign travel.
Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon and others told affected employees to return to the U.S. on Saturday and cancel any plans to leave the U.S.
“While we don’t have all the answers right now, we ask that you prioritize the recommendations above,” a message from Microsoft said, according to Bloomberg.
Top banks JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs sent similar messages to employees on H-1B visas, according to the Financial Times.
H-1B visas had previously been a divisive issue in Trump’s circle. Late last year, before falling out with the president, Elon Musk called for more highly skilled workers as did and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. But MAGA hardliners have demanded that U.S. companies hire more American workers.
In a reply to a post taunting him about H-1Bs, the South African-born Musk hit back sharply.
“The reason I’m in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla, and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B,” he wrote in December. “Take a big step back and F–K YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend.”
This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Hiring H-1B visa workers may cost $100K more with Trump's latest executive order
Kelsey Vlamis,Rosalie Chan,Alex Nicoll
Fri, September 19, 2025
INSIDER
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday that would change the H-1B visa program.
The order raises the H-1B visa application fee to $100,000.
Tech companies use the H-1B visa program to hire skilled foreign workers.
It looks like hiring H-1B visa workers is about to get a whole lot more expensive.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday that includes changes to the H-1B visa program, which many tech companies use to hire thousands of skilled foreign workers every year.
The order includes imposing an H-1B application fee of $100,000. The executive order said the fee would need to be paid in order for applications to be considered.
The White House told Business Insider on Saturday that the new rules would only affect new applicants, though that is not spelled out in the executive order itself.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who spoke alongside Trump from the Oval Office on Friday, said it would be a yearly fee for companies that hire H-1B workers. Officials said the fee would help ensure the visa is used to bring in workers who are actually very highly skilled and not to replace American workers.
"Either the person is very valuable to the company and America, or they're going to depart and the company is going to hire an American," Lutnick said, adding the changes would encourage companies to train Americans instead of bringing in foreign workers.
According to the executive order, the new fee requirement will take effect on September 21 and expire after one year, pending an extension.
Some of the top tech companies sponsoring H-1B visas include Amazon, Microsoft, Google's parent company, Alphabet, Meta, and Apple. Because companies are required to disclose to the government what they pay H-1B workers, the data has offered insights into Big Tech salaries.
Trump calls out tech companies
In his executive order, Trump called out four tech companies that approved thousands of H-1B workers and also conducted layoffs. He did not name them, though they are likely Microsoft, Intel, Amazon, and Salesforce. Business Insider has reached out to the White House to confirm this.
Trump wrote about "one software company" that announced layoffs of over 15,000 employees, an "IT firm" that laid off 2,400 employees in Oregon in July, a company that has reduced its workforce by 27,000 employees since 2022, and a fourth company that eliminated 1,000 jobs in February.
As Business Insider has previously reported, Microsoft has said it will shed about 15,000 employees this year, and Amazon has cut at least 27,000 employees since late 2022. Intel, which has previously found itself in the crosshairs of the Trump administration and is also getting a 9.9% stake from the government, has a major presence in Oregon, where it made cuts in July. The fourth company that Trump referred to was likely Salesforce.
Gold Card visa
Trump also signed an executive order on Friday establishing the "Gold Card" visa, an idea he floated earlier this year that would allow wealthy foreigners to obtain residency in the United States for a high cost.
The visa would allow wealthy individuals to pay $1 million for residency. Corporations can also sponsor individuals to get residency by paying a $2 million gift under the program, according to a new government website detailing the "Trump Gold Card."
Business Insider
White House says $100K H-1B visa fee won't apply to existing holders as Trump move stirs anxiety
BARBARA ORTUTAY, SEUNG MIN KIM and AAMER MADHANI
Sat, September 20, 2025
AP
President Donald Trump speaks as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick listens in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’slatest plan to overhaul the American immigration system has left some immigrant workers confused, forcing the White House on Saturday to scramble to clarify that a new $100,000 fee on visas for skilled tech workers only applies to new applicants and not to current visa holders.
The president on Friday, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick by his side, signed a proclamation that will require the new fee for what are known as H-1B visas — meant for high-skilled jobs that tech companies find hard to fill.
“Those who already hold H-1B visas and are currently outside of the country right now will NOT be charged $100,000 to re-enter," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a posting on X. “This applies only to new visas, not renewals, and not current visa holders.”
The fee takes effect at 12:01 a.m. ET Sunday. It is scheduled to expire after a year. But it could be extended if the government determines that is in the interest of the United States to keep it.
The White House in a social media post also sought to make clear the new rule “does not impact the ability of any current visa holder to travel to/from the U.S.”
But immigration attorneys said that the White House move threatened to upend the lives of many skilled workers and has far-reaching impact on American business.
Kathleen Campbell Walker, an immigration attorney with Dickinson Wright based in El Paso, Texas, said in a posting on LinkedIn that the White House move “inserts total chaos in existing H-1B process with basically a day’s notice.”
Lutnick on Friday told reporters that the fee would be an annual cost for companies.
But a White House official said Saturday that it’s a “one-time fee.” Asked if Lutnick’s comments sowed confusion, the official, who was not authorized to comment publicly about the matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the new fee “currently does not apply to renewals but that policy is under discussion.”
Meanwhile, India's government expressed concern Saturday that the Donald Trump administration move would dramatically raise the fee for visas that bring tech workers from there and other countries to the United States.
Trump also rolled out a $1 million “gold card” visa for wealthy individuals. The moves face near-certain legal challenges amid widespread criticism he is sidestepping Congress.
To be certain, if the moves survive legal muster, they will deliver staggering price increases. The visa fee for skilled workers would jump from $215.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said Saturday that Trump’s plan “was being studied by all concerned, including by Indian industry.″ The ministry warned that ”this measure is likely to have humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families. Government hopes that these disruptions can be addressed suitably by the U.S. authorities.″
More than 70% of H-1B visa holders are from India.
Critics say the H-1B visas undercut American workers
H-1B visas, which require at least a bachelor’s degree, are meant for high-skilled jobs that tech companies find difficult to fill. Critics say the program undercuts American workers, luring people from overseas who are often willing to work for as little as $60,000 annually. That is well below the $100,000-plus salaries typically paid to U.S. technology workers.
Trump on Friday insisted that the tech industry would not oppose the move. Lutnick, meanwhile, claimed “all big companies” are on board.
Representatives for the biggest tech companies, including Amazon, Apple, Google and Meta, did not immediately respond to messages for comment. Microsoft declined to comment.
“We’re concerned about the impact on employees, their families and American employers," the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said. "We’re working with the Administration and our members to understand the full implications and the best path forward.”
Lutnick said the change will likely result in far fewer H-1B visas than the 85,000 annual cap allows because “it’s just not economic anymore.”
“If you’re going to train people, you’re going to train Americans,” Lutnick said on a conference call with reporters. “If you have a very sophisticated engineer and you want to bring them in ... then you can pay $100,000 a year for your H-1B visa.”
Trump also announced he will start selling a “gold card” visa with a path to U.S. citizenship for $1 million after vetting. For companies, it will cost $2 million to sponsor an employee.
Trump offers ‘Platinum Card'
The “Trump Platinum Card” will be available for $5 million and allows foreigners to spend up to 270 days in the U.S. without being subject to U.S. taxes on non-U.S. income. Trump announced a $5 million gold card in February to replace an existing investor visa — this is now the platinum card.
Lutnick said the gold and platinum cards would replace employment-based visas that offer paths to citizenship, including for professors, scientists, artists and athletes.
Critics of H-1Bs visas who say they are used to replace American workers applauded the move. U.S. Tech Workers, an advocacy group, called it “the next best thing” to abolishing the visas altogether.
Doug Rand, a senior official at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during the Biden administration, said the proposed fee increase was “ludicrously lawless.”
“This isn’t real policy — it’s fan service for immigration restrictionists,” Rand said. “Trump gets his headlines, and inflicts a jolt of panic, and doesn’t care whether this survives first contact with the courts.”
Lutnick said the H-1B fees and gold card could be introduced by the president but the platinum card needs congressional approval.
Visas doled out by lottery
Historically, H-1B visas have been doled out through lottery. This year, Amazon was by far the top recipient of H-1B visas with more than 10,000 awarded, followed by Tata Consultancy, Microsoft, Apple and Google. Geographically, California has the highest number of H-1B workers.
Critics say H-1B spots often go to entry-level jobs, rather than senior positions with unique skill requirements. And while the program isn’t supposed to undercut U.S. wages or displace U.S. workers, critics say companies can pay less by classifying jobs at the lowest skill levels, even if the specific workers hired have more experience.
As a result, many U.S. companies find it cheaper to contract out help desks, programming and other basic tasks to consulting companies such as Wipro, Infosys, HCL Technologies and Tata in India and IBM and Cognizant in the U.S. These consulting companies hire foreign workers, often from India, and contract them out to U.S. employers looking to save money.
___
President Donald Trump speaks as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick listens in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’slatest plan to overhaul the American immigration system has left some immigrant workers confused, forcing the White House on Saturday to scramble to clarify that a new $100,000 fee on visas for skilled tech workers only applies to new applicants and not to current visa holders.
The president on Friday, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick by his side, signed a proclamation that will require the new fee for what are known as H-1B visas — meant for high-skilled jobs that tech companies find hard to fill.
“Those who already hold H-1B visas and are currently outside of the country right now will NOT be charged $100,000 to re-enter," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a posting on X. “This applies only to new visas, not renewals, and not current visa holders.”
The fee takes effect at 12:01 a.m. ET Sunday. It is scheduled to expire after a year. But it could be extended if the government determines that is in the interest of the United States to keep it.
The White House in a social media post also sought to make clear the new rule “does not impact the ability of any current visa holder to travel to/from the U.S.”
But immigration attorneys said that the White House move threatened to upend the lives of many skilled workers and has far-reaching impact on American business.
Kathleen Campbell Walker, an immigration attorney with Dickinson Wright based in El Paso, Texas, said in a posting on LinkedIn that the White House move “inserts total chaos in existing H-1B process with basically a day’s notice.”
Lutnick on Friday told reporters that the fee would be an annual cost for companies.
But a White House official said Saturday that it’s a “one-time fee.” Asked if Lutnick’s comments sowed confusion, the official, who was not authorized to comment publicly about the matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the new fee “currently does not apply to renewals but that policy is under discussion.”
Meanwhile, India's government expressed concern Saturday that the Donald Trump administration move would dramatically raise the fee for visas that bring tech workers from there and other countries to the United States.
Trump also rolled out a $1 million “gold card” visa for wealthy individuals. The moves face near-certain legal challenges amid widespread criticism he is sidestepping Congress.
To be certain, if the moves survive legal muster, they will deliver staggering price increases. The visa fee for skilled workers would jump from $215.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said Saturday that Trump’s plan “was being studied by all concerned, including by Indian industry.″ The ministry warned that ”this measure is likely to have humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families. Government hopes that these disruptions can be addressed suitably by the U.S. authorities.″
More than 70% of H-1B visa holders are from India.
Critics say the H-1B visas undercut American workers
H-1B visas, which require at least a bachelor’s degree, are meant for high-skilled jobs that tech companies find difficult to fill. Critics say the program undercuts American workers, luring people from overseas who are often willing to work for as little as $60,000 annually. That is well below the $100,000-plus salaries typically paid to U.S. technology workers.
Trump on Friday insisted that the tech industry would not oppose the move. Lutnick, meanwhile, claimed “all big companies” are on board.
Representatives for the biggest tech companies, including Amazon, Apple, Google and Meta, did not immediately respond to messages for comment. Microsoft declined to comment.
“We’re concerned about the impact on employees, their families and American employers," the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said. "We’re working with the Administration and our members to understand the full implications and the best path forward.”
Lutnick said the change will likely result in far fewer H-1B visas than the 85,000 annual cap allows because “it’s just not economic anymore.”
“If you’re going to train people, you’re going to train Americans,” Lutnick said on a conference call with reporters. “If you have a very sophisticated engineer and you want to bring them in ... then you can pay $100,000 a year for your H-1B visa.”
Trump also announced he will start selling a “gold card” visa with a path to U.S. citizenship for $1 million after vetting. For companies, it will cost $2 million to sponsor an employee.
Trump offers ‘Platinum Card'
The “Trump Platinum Card” will be available for $5 million and allows foreigners to spend up to 270 days in the U.S. without being subject to U.S. taxes on non-U.S. income. Trump announced a $5 million gold card in February to replace an existing investor visa — this is now the platinum card.
Lutnick said the gold and platinum cards would replace employment-based visas that offer paths to citizenship, including for professors, scientists, artists and athletes.
Critics of H-1Bs visas who say they are used to replace American workers applauded the move. U.S. Tech Workers, an advocacy group, called it “the next best thing” to abolishing the visas altogether.
Doug Rand, a senior official at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during the Biden administration, said the proposed fee increase was “ludicrously lawless.”
“This isn’t real policy — it’s fan service for immigration restrictionists,” Rand said. “Trump gets his headlines, and inflicts a jolt of panic, and doesn’t care whether this survives first contact with the courts.”
Lutnick said the H-1B fees and gold card could be introduced by the president but the platinum card needs congressional approval.
Visas doled out by lottery
Historically, H-1B visas have been doled out through lottery. This year, Amazon was by far the top recipient of H-1B visas with more than 10,000 awarded, followed by Tata Consultancy, Microsoft, Apple and Google. Geographically, California has the highest number of H-1B workers.
Critics say H-1B spots often go to entry-level jobs, rather than senior positions with unique skill requirements. And while the program isn’t supposed to undercut U.S. wages or displace U.S. workers, critics say companies can pay less by classifying jobs at the lowest skill levels, even if the specific workers hired have more experience.
As a result, many U.S. companies find it cheaper to contract out help desks, programming and other basic tasks to consulting companies such as Wipro, Infosys, HCL Technologies and Tata in India and IBM and Cognizant in the U.S. These consulting companies hire foreign workers, often from India, and contract them out to U.S. employers looking to save money.
___
No comments:
Post a Comment