Trump raises H-1B visa fees to $100,000 a year! "Give the jobs back to Americans" foreign job seekers are in despair.

Trump signs an executive order to significantly raise the application fee for H-1B visas to $100,000, indicating a desire to return jobs to Americans. This news has shocked many foreigners hoping to work in the United States. (Background: The U.S. will hold a "Bitcoin Bill" promotion meeting, with the Republican Party and the encryption industry pushing to buy 1 million BTC over five years.) (Supplementary Background: Why did the death of Charlie Kirk turn American companies into a battleground for hate? Several experts lost their jobs due to comments, leading to a collapse in social trust.) Those working in the U.S. and applying for immigration are in shock! Today, CNN reports that President Trump has signed an executive order to raise the application fee for H-1B work visas to "$100,000 per year," requiring applicants to pay a total of $300,000 for three years upfront or in annual installments, effective immediately. Trump publicly stated at the White House that this move is aimed at "encouraging companies to prioritize hiring American local labor while maintaining pathways for high-skilled foreign talent to enter." We (the U.S.) need outstanding workers, and this measure will ensure that companies truly hire top talent. The U.S. H-1B visa originally issued 65,000 quotas each year, with an additional 20,000 quotas specifically for graduates from U.S. higher education institutions. Due to demand far exceeding supply, a lottery system has been in place for years. With the new Trump policy, the tech industry is hit hardest as many companies rely on H-1B visas to supplement the professional talent that is difficult to recruit locally. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick stated that the fee structure is still being negotiated with the Department of Homeland Security and may be adjusted to "lump-sum payment or installment payments" in the future. Meanwhile, Trump has also recommended a "gold card" immigration program, where foreigners can accelerate their U.S. visa acquisition by paying $1 million; if a company is willing to pay $2 million for a foreign employee, the review process can be further expedited. Howard Lutnick criticized the current green card system for "leading to the U.S. absorbing global low-wage labor," emphasizing that the new policy will "only attract the top and most outstanding talent." This executive order takes effect immediately, barring any court rulings to delay or invalidate it, or congressional legislation to counter it. The H-1B visa is the "gateway" to controlling immigration in the U.S. Trump’s stance on H-1B has seen many twists and turns; he criticized companies during the 2016 election for "replacing American workers with low wages" and tightened visa policies multiple times during the pandemic in 2020. However, during the 2024 election period, he expressed support for some foreign graduates to obtain legal status. In December 2025, he publicly stated: I have always supported H-1B visas; that is the reason we set it up. The main reason is Trump’s control over domestic employment rates, minimizing the number of foreign residents. The H-1B visa is often a "long-term stopover" before obtaining a green card, measured by fees, which is precisely the approach Trump is currently taking. Job seekers in the U.S. are in distress. Upon hearing the news, many international students studying in the U.S., those preparing to find work and stay, or those on an F-1 visa in OPT (Optional Practical Training) are lamenting online, as the increase in visa fees to $100,000 means that almost no companies would be willing to assist with sponsorship, effectively cutting off their job prospects. The application fee for the H-1B visa was only a few thousand dollars; the new policy raises it to $100,000 per year, totaling $300,000 over three years, far exceeding what most foreign job seekers or small businesses can afford. The high costs will force companies to reassess the necessity of hiring foreign employees, prioritizing local talent and paying high fees only for a very few top foreign talents. The U.S. has long attracted global tech and financial elites, and the sharp increase in visa prices may lead some talents to shift towards Canada, Europe, or other markets in Asia, affecting the U.S.’s competitiveness in global talent. Those with financial means can pay $1 million to "buy a gold card" for quick U.S. work qualifications, and companies can use $2 million to expedite employee entry, creating a preference for "high capital, high skill" talents while undermining diversity. The fintech industry is also shaken; industries in Silicon Valley and Wall Street heavily rely on H-1B foreign talents, and Trump’s policies will tighten innovation, competitiveness, and global capital flow. Related reports: Trump pressures the cancellation of "The Jimmy Kimmel Show" and cuts leftist media: Fake TV station criticizes me and withdraws the license with Charlie Kirk. Breaking! Trump halts a $400 million arms purchase case for Taiwan; WSJ: Adds friendly bargaining chips for China-U.S. trade talks. <Trump raises the H-1B visa fee to $100,000 per year! "Returning jobs to Americans" foreign job seekers are distraught> This article was first published by BlockTempo, the most influential blockchain news media.