The Trump administration has proposed requiring companies to pay US$100,000 per year for each H-1B worker visa, a sharp increase from the current fees of several thousand dollars.

The H-1B program allows US employers to hire foreign workers in specialized fields, with the tech sector as the main user.

Companies including Microsoft, JP Morgan, and Amazon have advised H-1B holders to remain in or return to the US before the proposed fee takes effect, according to internal emails reviewed by Reuters.

India accounted for 71% of H-1B visa beneficiaries last year, while China made up 11.7%, according to US government data.

Analysts warn the new fee could raise costs for companies, especially startups, and may push firms to move work overseas.

Shares of Cognizant, Infosys, and Wipro fell after the announcement.

President Trump also signed an executive order to create a US$1 million “gold card” for permanent residency.

🔗 Source: Reuters