President Donald Trump has raised the cost of an H-1B visa application to $100,000, a sharp increase from the prior $2,000–$5,000 range. The policy, announced Friday, leaves major employers in technology and finance reassessing how they will manage a talent pipeline that has long depended on foreign workers.

The new requirement takes effect immediately for the next lottery cycle and only applies to first-time applicants. Existing visa holders and renewals remain exempt. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the charge is a one-time payment, not an annual levy. She also noted that exceptions will be possible if the Secretary of Homeland Security deems a worker essential to the national interest. Details of the change were outlined in CNBC coverage.

H-1B visas allow U.S. employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations, predominantly in STEM fields. For many companies, these roles are difficult to fill with domestic candidates. In fiscal year 2025, Amazon sponsored more than 10,000 applicants, while Microsoft and Meta each backed over 5,000. Apple and Google each exceeded 4,000 approvals, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data.

The annual cap remains 65,000, with an additional 20,000 for applicants holding advanced U.S. degrees. A lottery system allocates visas when applications exceed the cap, which has been the norm for years. Pew Research has reported that more than 60% of approved H-1B workers since 2012 have held computer-related positions.

Industry observers note that the sharp fee increase could deter employers from sponsoring new candidates, even as demand for highly skilled labor remains strong. The policy may also spur legal challenges or lobbying efforts from corporations that view the move as a significant barrier to attracting global talent.