Trump Raises Fee For High-Tech Visa To $100,000: Official

US President Donald Trump has announced a steep increase in the fee for H-1B visas, raising it to \$100,000 from the current rate of under \$1,000, a US official confirmed.

The H-1B visa, widely used by high-tech professionals—particularly from India—has long been a cornerstone for Silicon Valley. The sharp hike, first reported by Bloomberg News, comes as part of Trump’s broader immigration crackdown since returning to the White House, although the program had previously been left untouched.

The administration is also preparing new measures to prevent visa holders from undercutting wages of US-born workers.

Each year, the United States grants 85,000 H-1B visas through a lottery system, with Indian nationals accounting for nearly three-quarters of the recipients. Major technology companies rely heavily on Indian professionals, who either move to the US permanently or work between the two countries.

Tech leaders, including Trump’s former ally Elon Musk, have voiced concern over the move, warning that restricting H-1B visas could harm the industry, as the US lacks sufficient local talent to meet demand in critical tech roles.