Trump’s H-1B Visa Changes: What He Promises
Here’s a breakdown of who is affected by the new H-1B visa fee, and other key facts from the text:
Who is Affected?
* New H-1B applicants: A $10,000 fee will be applied to new applications in the upcoming lottery cycle.
* Not affected:
* H-1B visa renewals
* Current H-1B visa holders
* H-1B visa holders already outside the U.S. (they won’t need to pay to re-enter)
* Potential exceptions: The fee can be waived for immigrants deemed essential to the national interest by the Secretary of Homeland Security.
Key Details about the Fee:
* It’s a one-time payment,not an annual charge (despite initial conflicting statements).
Who are H-1B Workers & Why are they Needed?
* They are highly skilled foreign professionals working in “specialty occupations” (often STEM fields) where U.S. employers can’t find qualified American workers.
* Common fields include science, technology, engineering, and math.
* A bachelor’s degree is generally required.
Industry Reliance:
* The tech and finance sectors heavily rely on H-1B visas.
* The majority of H-1B visa holders come from India (71%) and China (11.7%).
Visa Numbers:
* The annual cap is 65,000 visas, plus an additional 20,000 for those with U.S. master’s or doctoral degrees.
* A lottery system is used when demand exceeds the cap.
* 60% or more of approved H-1B workers have computer-related jobs.
Top Employers (Fiscal Year 2025):
* Amazon (sponsored over 10,000 applicants)
* Microsoft
* (The text is cut off before listing other top employers)
Regarding B Visas:
* The White House will provide guidance to prevent B visas (temporary business visas) from being used as a workaround for the H-1B visa process, particularly for those with start dates before October 2026.