President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced a drastic change in labor immigration policy: from now on, companies wishing to hire highly skilled foreign workers on an H-1B visa will have to pay an annual fee of $100,000.
This measure aims, according to the president, to favor the hiring of Americans in high-value-added sectors.
During the signing of the proclamation at the White House, Trump argued that the measure will ensure that only foreigners with such high levels of expertise that they cannot be replaced by domestic talent are hired.
“The goal is for large companies to stop training foreigners and start training our recent graduates. We want jobs to stay in the United States,” said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who accompanied the president at the event.
At Least 700,000 People Live in the United States on H-1B Visas
The H-1B visa, widely used in the tech industry, allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialized occupations. Currently, around 700,000 people reside in the country under this immigration status, mostly professionals from India.
Trump, a frequent critic of the program, argues that it creates unfair competition for citizens and drives down wages. With the new fee, companies will have to pay not only the employee’s salary but also the costly annual permit.
According to the government, this will make hiring foreigners less attractive compared to Americans.
The “Golden Card” Is Born
Alongside this measure, the president signed an executive order creating the so-called “Golden Card,” an expedited visa program for foreigners with exceptional skills and strong financial backing.
The program will allow temporary residency in exchange for a direct contribution to the Treasury: $1,000,000 individually or $2,000,000 in the case of corporate sponsorship.
“With this plan, we will not only attract the world’s best talent but also generate revenue exceeding $100 billion, funds that will be used to reduce taxes and public debt,” Lutnick stated.
The government argues that, unlike the H-1B, the “Golden Card” aims to attract individuals who will drive the creation of new businesses and jobs in the country, rather than compete with the local workforce.
Image: DiarioNY
