Overview

• President Trump signed orders Friday imposing a $100,000 application charge tied to the H‑1B category and advancing a “Trump Gold Card” that offers permanent residence for $1 million, with an initial 80,000 cards planned.
• White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the H‑1B charge is not annual, applies to new applications only, and does not affect reentry for current visa holders.
• Amazon, Microsoft, Meta and JPMorgan urged H‑1B employees abroad to return to the U.S. or delay travel after early statements suggested a recurring fee, prompting confusion that triggered internal advisories.
• The administration’s guidance allows case‑by‑case waivers when deemed in the national interest, and officials said departments will update review and enforcement policies for the program.
• Tech companies rely heavily on H‑1B workers—more than 10,000 approvals for Amazon and over 5,000 each for Microsoft and Meta in the first half of 2025—while further details, legal durability and a proposed “Platinum” tier that needs congressional approval remain unsettled.