The Trump administration is advancing two major immigration policies and the largest mass visa revocation in US history and a staggering $100,000 fee for highly skilled foreign workers.
First, the State Department plans to revoke the B1 (business) and B2 (tourism) visas of up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for asylum in the United States. Coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the move targets individuals who entered as short-term visitors but later sought permanent residency through asylum claims.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau stated that asylum should not be used as a "loophole" to bypass immigration laws. While the revocations will strip individuals of their tourist or business status also officials noted it will not lead to immediate deportation for those with pending asylum cases.
Simultaneously, the administration has proposed making a controversial $103,265 fee for new H-1B worker visas permanent. The H-1B program is widely used by the U.S. tech, education and research sectors to hire skilled foreign talent. Previously, visa fees ranged from $2,000 to $5,000.
While the massive fee increase was temporarily introduced last year, it was blocked by a federal judge following lawsuits from major business groups including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The new DHS proposal aims to formally codify this fee by year-end though it will not apply to visa renewals or foreigners already in the U.S. on student visas.
The administration argues the H-1B program displaces American workers while business groups maintain the visas are essential for recruiting top global talent. Amid these tightening restrictions the H-1B visa applications have plummeted and dropping from 794,000 in 2023 to roughly 344,000 last year.
