United States President Donald Trump on Friday dramatically ramped up the application fee for companies hiring employees on H-1B worker visas, the principal mechanism for firms to bring in workers with specialised skills from around the world in fields ranging from technology to teaching.The increase, to $100,000 per application, is meant to deter companies from using the programme to bring in foreign workers at current levels, amid a growing and heated debate within the US on immigration.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listHowever, the hike in fees has also led to confusion, set off worries over its effect on the US tech sector, and raised questions about who really gained from H-1B visas, how that has changed over the years, and who might lose out most with the revised rules.What has the Trump administration announced?Through a proclamation that the US president signed, his administration decreed that starting 12:01am ET (04:01 GMT) on Sunday, companies must pay $100,000 per H-1B application.The fees previously ranged from $2,000 to $5,000, based on the size of the company applying for the visa.“The fee is a one-time fee on submission of a new H-1B petition,” the White House said, explaining Trump’s proclamation.It added that the rules do not apply to people who already hold H-1B visas or those who submitted their applications before September 21.Separately, the Department of Labor is updating prevailing wage rules to ensure H-1B visas go to only highly qualified foreign workers, the White House said. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security will prioritise high-skilled, higher-paid applicants in the H …
