Overview

• The decree establishes a fast‑track residency pathway priced at $1 million for individuals or $2 million if company‑sponsored, with expedited processing for applicants judged exceptional.
• A new $100,000 fee is imposed on H‑1B work visas widely used in the tech sector, a sharp jump from roughly under $1,000 previously reported by officials.
• An official described the $100,000 as a yearly charge, though that annual language is not in the signed text, leaving the payment cadence unclear.
• The order takes effect for entries starting Sunday and grants Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem authority to exempt individuals, companies or sectors.
• Tech leaders have warned of talent shortages, and internal guidance at firms such as Microsoft and JPMorgan urged H‑1B employees to avoid travel, with recent data showing about 400,000 approvals in 2024 and a large majority from India.