U.S. President Donald Trump is making ready to sign a proclamation that can require a $1,00,000 utility fee for H-1B visa functions, amongst different modifications to the programme for extremely expert overseas staff that has come below scrutiny by the administration, in accordance to a White House official.
The Republican President was anticipated to sign a proclamation as early as Friday (September 19, 2025) proscribing entry below the H-1B visa program until the fee is paid, mentioned the official. Mr. Trump additionally deliberate to order modifications to the prevailing wage ranges for the H-1B programme as a method to restrict their use, the official added.
The proposed proclamation was first reported by Bloomberg News.
H-1B visas are meant to carry the very best and brightest foreigners for high-skilled jobs that tech firms discover troublesome to fill with certified U.S. residents and everlasting residents. The programme as an alternative has changed into a pipeline for abroad staff who are sometimes prepared to work for as little as $60,000 yearly. That is much lower than $100,000-plus salaries sometimes paid to U.S. know-how staff.
The program was created in 1990 for individuals with a bachelor’s diploma or larger in fields the place jobs are deemed laborious to fill, particularly science, know-how, engineering and math. Critics say they permit firms to pay decrease wages with fewer labor protections.
Historically, these visas — 85,000 per 12 months — have been doled out by a lottery system. This 12 months, Amazon was by far the highest recipient of H-1B visas with greater than 10,000 awarded, adopted by Tata Consultancy, Microsoft, Apple and Google. Geographically, California has the best variety of H-1B staff, in accordance to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Critics say H-1B spots typically go to entry-level jobs, reasonably than senior positions with distinctive ability necessities. And whereas this system isn’t supposed to undercut U.S. wages or displace U.S. staff, critics say firms pays much less by classifying jobs on the lowest ability ranges, even when the precise staff employed have extra expertise.
(With inputs from Reuter, AP)
