President Trump Introduces New Visa Fees and Investment Pathway to Citizenship
WASHINGTON — On Friday, President Trump announced significant changes to the visa system aimed at foreign workers in the United States. His new proclamation will require a hefty $100,000 annual fee for highly-skilled foreign workers and introduce a $1 million “gold card” visa, which would pave the way for citizenship for wealthy individuals. These moves are expected to face legal challenges, as they sidestep the usual legislative process.
If these changes take effect, they could result in a dramatic increase in visa costs. The fee for skilled worker visas is set to rise from the current $215, while investor visas—which are prevalent in Europe—would see their annual costs jump from $10,000 to between $20,000 and $30,000.
The H-1B visa program, used mainly in the tech industry, is designed for high-skilled jobs that American companies often struggle to fill. Critics argue that this program primarily benefits overseas workers willing to accept lower salaries, often around $60,000, which undermines the higher wages typically offered to American tech workers.
President Trump believed that the tech industry would support these changes. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick noted that many large companies were on board with the new direction. However, responses from major tech corporations like Amazon, Apple, Google, and Meta were not immediately available. Microsoft chose not to comment.
Lutnick mentioned that the changes would likely lead to a decrease in the number of H-1B visas issued, stating, “It’s just not economic anymore,” and emphasized a focus on training American workers instead.
Alongside the increased visa fees, Trump revealed the introduction of a gold card visa, which would cost $1 million and allow individuals to pursue U.S. citizenship after passing background checks. For employers, sponsoring a worker under this new system would cost $2 million. There is also a proposed “Trump Platinum Card” priced at $5 million, permitting foreign nationals to spend up to 270 days in the country without facing U.S. taxes on overseas income.
These new visa categories are set to replace existing employment-based visas for various professionals, such as scientists and artists. Advocates against the H-1B program welcomed these changes, seeing it as a step closer to reducing foreign worker reliance in favor of U.S. citizens. A representative from U.S. Tech Workers praised the announcement as a commendable move.
Conversely, some critics have labeled the proposed fee increase as impractical. Doug Rand, a former senior official at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, criticized the announcement as “fan service” for those advocating for stricter immigration policies, suggesting that it lacks substance and is more about garnering headlines.
Historically, H-1B visas are allocated through a lottery system. In recent years, Amazon has been the leading recipient of such visas, highlighting concerns about the program’s effectiveness in meeting the needs of American companies.
Critics point out that the H-1B system often fills entry-level roles instead of those requiring specialized skills. While the program claims not to undercut American wages, evidence suggests companies can still lower costs by designating positions at lower skill levels, regardless of the workers’ actual qualifications.
Many U.S. firms are increasingly opting to outsource basic tasks to consulting companies that employ foreign workers, a trend that raises further concerns about job losses for American citizens.
In 2024, applications for H-1B visas reportedly fell significantly, partly due to efforts to counteract fraudulent applications that attempted to manipulate the lottery system.
While some welcomed the new direction, labor unions like the AFL-CIO assert that further reforms are necessary, advocating for prioritizing visas for companies that offer the best salaries instead of relying solely on a random lottery. This issue was also a point of focus during Trump’s earlier administration.
As the situation continues to develop, it will be important to observe how these proposed changes unfold and their implications for the American workforce.
