White House proclamation announcing new visa fees has prompted questions and confusion – here’s what to know
Donald Trump’s administration has announced an annual $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications, a type of US visa that allows companies to hire foreign workers in skilled occupations such as IT, healthcare and engineering.
The new proclamation, signed on Friday, brought a mixed bag of emotions for hundreds of thousands of workers on H-1B visas, as well as many question. Here’s what you need to know.
The H-1B program dates back to 1990, when George HW Bush signed a new bill into law in an effort to encourage the immigration of highly skilled workers, including scientists, engineers and educators, to address labor shortages in specialized fields.
This temporary visa category allows employers to petition for “highly educated” foreign professionals to work in “specialty occupations” that require at least a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent. The H-1B visa is typically granted for an initial period of three years and can be extended up to a maximum of six years.
