Trump’s New Visa Fees Shake Up Skilled Worker Program and Fast-Track “Gold Card” Option

In a sweeping move to reform U.S. immigration policy affecting skilled foreign workers, President Donald J. Trump on Friday signed an executive order imposing a sharply increased annual fee for the H-1B visa program. Effective September 21, 2025, companies must now pay $100,000 per year for each H-1B visa employee, a dramatic jump from the previous fee of roughly $1,500. This fee will apply annually up to a maximum of six years, forcing businesses to reassess their reliance on foreign talent.

Concurrent with this fee hike, Trump unveiled the “Gold Card” visa initiative. This new visa option fast-tracks certain immigrants willing to make substantial payments to the U.S. government, starting at $1.3 million for individual applicants—with higher fees for corporate sponsorship. The program is designed to attract wealthy, high-impact immigrants who can contribute significantly to the economy.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick explained the rationale: “The company needs to decide… is the person valuable enough to have a $100,000-a-year payment to the government, or they should head home, and they should go hire an American.” This policy reflects the administration’s focus on protecting American jobs while ensuring that immigration benefits the nation’s economic interests.

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The order addresses long-standing criticisms of the H-1B program, which has been accused of enabling companies to undercut American workers by hiring cheaper foreign labor. While opponents of the program have welcomed the fee increase as a safeguard for domestic employment, advocates argue it could deter global talent from contributing to American innovation and competitiveness.

In addition to the sharp fee hike, the “Gold Card” program offers an investment-based path to fast-track residency for foreign investors and skilled individuals able to meet the high payment threshold. The administration expects this program to generate substantial revenue for the U.S. Treasury and reshape the skill-based immigration landscape.

As the new fees come into effect tomorrow, corporate America faces significant adjustments, particularly technology giants and other sectors heavily reliant on H-1B workers. The long-term impact of these changes on the U.S. labor market and international talent recruitment remains closely watched.