The Trump administration is drastically changing its approach to legal immigration. Last Friday, Trump introduced a $100,000 fee for H-1B visas, a popular program for skilled foreign workers, Bloomberg reports.
In addition, the president unveiled the “Trump Green Card” visa program, which allows individuals to gain residency in the U.S. for a $1 million investment. Companies can purchase residency permits for their employees for $2 million, while a new “platinum-level card” costing $5 million will grant holders the right to stay in the U.S. for up to 270 days a year without paying taxes on non-U.S. income.
“This all amounts to a plan for a new Gilded Age of immigration to America, where those with the resources to invest are welcomed along with their wallets, while new barriers to entry are erected for those with less wealth,” Bloomberg notes. “It’s a sharp shift from America’s historic position on immigration, which has welcomed people from diverse economic backgrounds who legally come to the country in search of a better life and greater freedom.”
Lawyers warn that the $100,000 H-1B visa fee will effectively “kill” the program, forcing companies to move some of their teams to countries like Canada or Singapore. Recruiters expect that small and medium-sized firms, as well as junior specialists, will be at a disadvantage.
The White House, in turn, argues that these measures protect American jobs and raise the “entry threshold” for low-wage positions. Trump is also instructing authorities to increase the “prevailing wage” thresholds for H-1B visas to ensure they are used only for high-earning specialists. Individual exceptions will be allowed “in the interests of national security.”
Some parts of the package, particularly the platinum card, will require Congressional approval, which may be difficult due to political divisions.
American lawyers also point out that current law only allows for “reasonable administrative costs,” with a typical visa package currently costing up to $5,000–$10,000. Experts also warn of a “chilling effect” on foreign students who hope to secure an H-1B visa after graduation.
This news follows a previous announcement that the U.S. State Department had tightened restrictions for non-immigrant visas, requiring foreigners to apply only in their country of citizenship or permanent residence. For Ukrainians, this process is now limited to just two cities in Poland.
