United States President Donald Trump has shaken the global tech industry after signing an executive order that slaps a $100,000 annual fee on companies seeking H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers.
The policy, which kicks off on September 21, 2025, is a huge jump from the old fee of about $1,500. The H-1B visa programme is capped at 85,000 slots each year and has long been a lifeline for tech companies and startups hungry for highly skilled talent, especially in fields like software engineering and data science.
US Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, defended the move, saying: “Companies need to decide — is the person valuable enough to have a $100,000-a-year payment to the government, or should they head home and go hire an American? All of the big companies are on board.”
But immigration lawyers warn that small and medium-sized firms will suffer. Tahmina Watson, a Seattle-based attorney, called it a “devastating impact,” arguing that many businesses simply can’t find qualified Americans to replace the foreign experts they rely on.
For Nigeria and other developing nations, this could block opportunities for young professionals who dream of working in the US tech space. The H-1B visa has historically been a major route for skilled Nigerians, Indians, and Chinese nationals to gain entry into Silicon Valley and other tech hubs.
This order follows a string of tough immigration rules. Just last month, the US introduced a pilot programme demanding bonds of up to $15,000 for certain tourist and business visas. Back in June, a travel ban on 12 countries was announced.
Trump’s executive order also creates a so-called “gold card” – a fast-track immigration pass for wealthy investors who can pay at least £1 million. Critics say it’s a clear sign that the US is shutting its doors to skilled workers while rolling out the red carpet for the super-rich.
