Trump Introduces $1M Investment Visa & $100K H-1B Fee: A New Era for Immigration Policy

On September 19, 2025, President Trump signed two pivotal executive orders, marking a significant transformation in U.S. immigration policy. These policies are designed to affect foreign investors and skilled workers.

The first of these, dubbed the “Trump Gold Card” program, offers foreign nationals the opportunity to secure permanent residency and a pathway to U.S. citizenship. The catch? A hefty $1 million investment in the United States.

Alongside this, the administration introduced a substantial $100,000 annual fee for companies hiring workers on H-1B visas. This represents a massive increase from previous costs.

These policy shifts are anticipated to have a significant impact, particularly on technology companies that heavily rely on skilled foreign workers. The moves reflect the administration’s dual approach of attracting wealthy foreign investment while simultaneously making it significantly more expensive for companies to hire foreign skilled labor.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was present for the signing, underscoring the economic implications of these policy changes.

The new policies are predicted to generate substantial revenue for the U.S. government. Additionally, they could potentially reshape immigration patterns for both investors and skilled professionals.

Source: NPR Business