By Dimple Singh
Copyright timesnownews
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order introducing a $100,000 fee for H-1B visas, Bloomberg News reported on Friday. The information came from a White House official familiar with the plan. The proclamation is aimed at curbing what the administration calls “overuse” and “abuse” of the visa program. The H-1B visa program allows US companies to hire foreign workers in fields such as technology, engineering, and medicine. Every year, thousands of skilled professionals from countries like India and China apply for these visas. Why It Matters? The proposed rule would make entry under the H-1B program possible only if accompanied by the $100,000 payment. The administration argues this will discourage companies from exploiting loopholes in the system. Currently, employers already pay several charges when sponsoring foreign workers. There is a $215 registration fee for the lottery process and a $780 petition filing fee for Form I-129, among other costs. These fees are borne directly by employers who seek to bring in skilled workers. How Are H-1B Visas Distributed? The H-1B visas are distributed through a lottery, but critics say the process is often misused. Some firms reportedly submit large numbers of applications, limiting opportunities for smaller companies. While major technology firms usually sponsor workers for highly specialized and well-paid roles, staffing and outsourcing companies take nearly half of the annual 85,000 visas. Many of these workers are placed in lower-wage positions instead. Earlier, Senator Jim Banks introduced the American Tech Workforce Act, which seeks to overhaul the H-1B system by raising wage requirements and restricting alternatives for companies hiring foreign talent. Supporters of the bill argue that the current system displaces American workers, while critics say H-1B visas are important for filling labour shortages in specialized industries. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News and around the World.
