WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Trump administration today announced a sweeping and controversial overhaul of key U.S. immigration policies, introducing a new high-cost investment visa program and imposing a staggering fee increase on the widely-used H-1B work visa. The move, aimed at reshaping the landscape of legal immigration, has already ignited a firestorm of debate among business leaders, immigration advocates, and lawmakers.
The new framework introduces two significant changes: a "residence golden visa" program for wealthy investors and a prohibitive new fee for skilled foreign workers.
The $1 Million "Golden Visa"
The first pillar of the new policy is an investment-for-residency program, unofficially dubbed the "golden visa." Under this initiative, foreign nationals can secure a path to permanent residency by making a direct investment of at least $1 million into the U.S. economy.
The administration argues that this program is designed to attract high-net-worth individuals who can create jobs and stimulate economic growth. A White House statement said the policy "prioritizes immigrants who will contribute substantially to the American economy, ensuring that those who benefit from U.S. residency are also significant investors in its future."
However, the policy has drawn immediate criticism. Opponents argue that it effectively "sells" U.S. residency to the highest bidder, creating a two-tiered immigration system that favors the wealthy over individuals with critical skills or family ties. Critics also raise concerns that such programs can be exploited for money laundering if not rigorously vetted.
A Staggering $100,000 Fee for H-1B Visas
Perhaps the most dramatic change is the radical increase in fees for the H-1B visa, a critical program for U.S. companies seeking to hire skilled foreign professionals, particularly in the tech and science sectors. The administration has proposed raising the total application and processing fees to $100,000 per visa.
This represents an exponential increase from the current fee structure, which typically amounts to several thousand dollars.
This policy aligns with President Trump's long-standing "Hire American" agenda. Supporters of the measure claim it will force U.S. companies to exhaust all options for hiring domestically before turning to foreign talent, thereby protecting the American workforce. A senior administration official stated, "If a company truly needs a foreign worker, they should be prepared to pay a premium. This fee ensures that the H-1B program is used only as a last resort for truly exceptional talent."
The announcement has sent shockwaves through the U.S. technology industry and other sectors that rely on the H-1B program to fill skills gaps and recruit top global talent. Business leaders and industry groups have warned that this move will not only stifle innovation but also make the United States far less competitive on the global stage.
"This isn't a fee, it's a wall," said a spokesperson for a major tech industry council. "It will drive investment, research, and ultimately, jobs out of the U.S. and into countries that welcome top talent. It is a self-inflicted wound to our own economic competitiveness."
The combination of these two policies signals a fundamental shift in the administration's approach to legal immigration—one that is heavily weighted toward either extreme personal wealth or an extreme cost to employers. Both proposals are expected to face significant political opposition and will likely be challenged through legal and legislative channels in the coming months.
