By Our Reporter,The Nation

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The United States has imposed a $100,000 annual fee on companies seeking H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers.

The new policy is set to take effect on September 21, 2025.

According to a report yesterday by the BBC, the development followed a broad executive order signed by President Donald Trump.

“Companies need to decide — is the person valuable enough to have a $100,000-a-year payment to the government, or should they head home and go hire an American?” said US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

“All of the big companies are on board.”

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The new fee will apply to all new H-1B visa applications and must be paid annually for up to six years.

According to BBC, the programme, currently capped at 85,000 visas per year, has long been a mainstay for tech firms and startups seeking highly educated foreign talent. Until now, the associated fees totalled approximately $1,500.

Critics, however, say the measure could severely undercut US competitiveness in the global economy, especially in the tech sector.

“This $100,000 as an entry point is going to have a devastating impact,” said Tahmina Watson, an immigration attorney based in Seattle.

“Almost everyone’s going to be priced out. Many small or medium-sized companies simply can’t find qualified Americans to do the job.”

The executive order also introduces a new “gold card” system, offering fast-track immigration for certain high-net-worth individuals in exchange for fees starting at £1 million.

Last month, the US introduced a pilot programme requiring bonds of up to $15,000 for some tourist and business visas. In June, a travel ban restricting entry from 12 nations was announced.