Trump imposes annual fees exceeding $100,000 on a basic visa in the technology sector.
Arabian Sea Newspaper - Special
Arab Sea - Follow-ups: U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday annual fees of $100,000 for work visas widely used in the technology sector, which could have serious consequences for companies in this sector that employ large numbers of Asians. H-1B visas allow foreign workers with specific skills, such as scientists, engineers, and computer programmers, to come and work in the United States. These work permits are for a fixed term, with an initial period of three years, extendable to six years for foreigners sponsored by an employer. Since his first term, Donald Trump has expressed his determination to limit these permits to prioritize American workers. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who joined Trump at the White House, explained that "the general idea is that large technology companies or other companies will no longer train foreign workers," stressing that "all major companies are committed" to this principle. He added that if companies employ foreign workers, "they have to pay $100,000 to the government and then pay their employees' salaries, which is not profitable." He said, "If you want to train someone, you should train a young graduate from one of our country's prestigious universities, train Americans, and stop bringing people in to fill our jobs." The number of H-1B visa applications has increased significantly in recent years, peaking in approvals in 2022 under former Democratic President Joe Biden. In contrast, the peak in rejections was recorded in 2018, during Donald Trump's first term in the White House. Large numbers of Indians The United States approved nearly 400,000 of these visas in 2024, two-thirds of which were renewals of previous visas. Three-quarters of the applicants whose applications were approved are Indian citizens. Major technology companies employ a large number of Indian workers who move to live in the United States or commute back and forth between the two countries. Technology entrepreneurs, including former Trump ally Elon Musk, have previously warned against targeting H-1B visas, stressing that the United States does not have enough skilled labor to meet the needs of this sector. According to a copy of the executive order signed by Trump, fees will be imposed on those wishing to enter the country starting Sunday, noting that the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, can exempt individuals, companies, or even entire sectors from the fees. This announcement is added to a series of anti-immigration measures taken by the U.S. President and his administration, which also carries out mass deportations of illegal immigrants. Donald Trump also signed an executive order to create a "golden" residence card worth $1 million, referring to the famous "green card" that allows people to live and work in the United States. Trump predicted "great success" for this new system, which aims to allow foreign nationals with "exceptional qualifications" to obtain the "golden card." An advisor to Trump explained, "In exchange for paying $1 million to the U.S. Treasury, or $2 million if they are supported by a company, applicants for this +golden card+ will benefit from accelerated visa procedures."
