Overview

• President Donald Trump signed an order adding a $100,000 application fee to the H‑1B program, to be paid by U.S. employers that sponsor specialized foreign workers.
• White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the charge is a one-time fee for new petitions only and does not apply to current visa holders or extensions, contradicting Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s initial description as annual.
• Implementation timing remains unclear, with some reports citing immediate effect and others citing Leavitt’s guidance that the fee would first apply to the March 2026 H‑1B lottery cycle; USCIS echoed that current holders are unaffected.
• Major employers including Amazon, Microsoft, Meta and JPMorgan urged H‑1B staff to return to the U.S. or avoid travel as they assessed the order and awaited further instructions.
• At the same signing, Trump advanced a paid residency ‘Gold Card’ program costing $1 million for individuals or $2 million via employers, while India—home to most H‑1B recipients—voiced concern over potential humanitarian impacts.