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The White House has released a statement clarifying President Trump’s announcement related to the $100,000 H-1B visa fee.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, the H-1B visa program is designed to allow US employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialty occupations. Currently, the US grants 105,000 visas per year. As of recent estimates, more than 600,000 H-1B visa holders are currently living and working in the US across sectors like technology, finance, and engineering. On Friday, President Trump announced a sweeping change to the H-1B visa program, introducing a $100,000 fee for each new visa application as part of his broader effort to overhaul legal immigration and prioritize American workers. The fee, as initially described by Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, would be charged annually for up to three years, potentially totaling $300,000 per visa. Trump framed the policy as a way to curb companies from “bringing in people to take our jobs” and encouraged employers to instead train recent US graduates. He stated that “all the big companies are on board” and suggested the move would dramatically reduce the number of H-1B visas issued.

What’s going on now: In a notable development, the White House has clarified that the newly announced $100,000 H-1B visa fee will only apply to new applicants, not to existing visa holders or those renewing their status. This clarification comes after initial confusion caused by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who had stated the fee would be charged annually, potentially reaching $300,000 per visa. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took to social media to confirm that the fee is instead a one-time payment, and will not affect the travel rights or status of current visa holders. The fee is scheduled to go into effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on Sunday, September 21, 2025, and is set to remain in place for one year, with the possibility of an extension depending on the administration’s policy review.

The announcement has caused a wave of disruption across the tech and finance sectors, prompting several major employers (including Amazon, Microsoft, and Goldman Sachs) to issue internal guidance advising H-1B visa holders to avoid international travel and, if currently abroad, to return to the US immediately.

Reactions to the policy remain deeply divided. Here are two different views: Supporters of stricter immigration controls, such as US Tech Workers, have praised the fee as a deterrent against companies exploiting the H-1B system for low-cost labor. They argue that the change could push companies to prioritize hiring American graduates and reduce abuse of the lottery-based system. On the other hand, critics have warned that the move could impact efforts to bring top talent to the US to work in critical fields where continued advancement is vital, including AI, engineering, and robotics.