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US President Donald Trump Signs Proclamation Raising H-1B Visa Costs to $100,000: Structural Shifts Ahead for Global Talent and Business
In mid-September 2025, United States President Donald Trump signed a proclamation that drastically changes the costs of the H-1B visa programme, used by skilled foreign workers. From 21 September, companies applying for new H-1B visas will be required to pay a fee of $100,000 per application, replacing the far more modest amounts previously in place. The change will not apply to current visa holders or renewals; it is directed solely at new petitions.
The official justification is to encourage these positions to be filled by American workers, to prevent abuses within the system (such as contracts with foreign professionals being paid below domestic market rates), and to reduce reliance on external talent for roles that companies claim they cannot fill domestically. The measure also forms part of a broader immigration control policy and a review of incentives provided by the administration.
The reaction was immediate. In the technology sector, major corporations such as Microsoft, Amazon and Google — all of which rely heavily on highly skilled foreign workers — expressed concern about the impact on operational costs. Some even advised employees holding H-1B visas abroad to return before the implementation date in order to avoid financial or bureaucratic complications.
India, in particular, raised strong concerns. Around 71% of H-1B visa recipients in recent years have been Indian, according to official statistics. Indian IT groups have warned that the elevated costs could affect not only the companies transferring their talent but also the families of these workers.
From an economic perspective, many analysts see the risk of a slowdown in sectors already facing fierce competition for talent, innovation, and workforce costs. Start-ups and mid-sized firms — often operating with tighter margins and reliant on foreign professionals to scale their operations — may be especially vulnerable. Larger corporations, on the other hand, may be able to absorb the costs or redistribute them as part of their more robust HR expenditure structures.
Another significant consequence is the potential migration of talent. With such a steep fee, highly skilled professionals may seek alternative destinations — Canada, the United Kingdom, or European countries with more flexible regimes or more attractive immigration programmes — potentially eroding the United States’ competitive edge in the long term.
For those focused on brand value, technological innovation, or disruptive business growth, this policy shift demands strategic planning: companies hiring global talent will need to revisit international recruitment budgets, adjust salaries to make offers more appealing, re-evaluate hiring pipelines, and invest in developing in-house capabilities to reduce external dependency.
In sum, the $100,000 fee for new H-1B visas is not a mere bureaucratic adjustment — it is a structural change with real economic implications, one that could redefine where, how, and by whom technological excellence will be produced in the years ahead.
