Overview

• Starting 12:01 a.m. EDT on September 21, companies must pay $100,000 per H‑1B application before an employee’s entry or re‑entry, with limited national‑interest waivers and an initial 12‑month order window reported.
• Major tech employers, including Microsoft, have advised affected staff to cancel trips or return to the U.S. before the deadline due to the new payment requirement.
• The White House signaled additional changes that would raise prevailing‑wage thresholds and expand enforcement through cross‑agency audits referred to as a Project Firewall‑style effort.
• Trump also signed an executive order creating a ‘Gold Card’ route priced at $1 million for individuals and $2 million for corporations, which the administration says will target exceptional talent and raise significant revenue.
• Indian opposition figures criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s response as officials and experts split on impact, with data cited showing roughly 71% of approved H‑1B beneficiaries are Indian.