What Are Trump's Gold, Platinum, Corporate Gold Cards For H-1B Workers?

Trump Raises H-1B Visa Fee to $100,000 in Significant Policy Shift

US President Donald Trump has dramatically increased the annual fee for H-1B visas to $100,000, a move that will substantially impact Indian tech professionals recruited by American companies.

While signing the proclamation at the White House, Trump emphasized that the "incentive is to hire American workers." The administration stated this policy aims to protect American workers while maintaining pathways for companies to recruit "truly extraordinary people" into the United States.

Should these changes withstand legal challenges, they will implement enormous fee increases. The skilled worker visa fee would surge from its current $215. Similarly, investor visa fees would rise substantially from the existing $10,000-$20,000 annual rate.

The administration has introduced a new Gold Card visa program, consisting of the Trump Gold Card and Trump Platinum Card for individuals, alongside the Trump Corporate Gold Card for businesses. These premium cards offer exclusive benefits and are designed to replace employment-based visas that currently provide pathways to citizenship for professors, scientists, artists, and athletes.

The Trump Gold Card targets individuals with a $1 million price tag. Applicants must submit their forms with a non-refundable processing fee, after which the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services will conduct comprehensive background checks. Once approved, cardholders can utilize the benefits throughout all 50 states and territories.

The premium Trump Platinum Card, priced at $5 million, requires individuals to register on a waiting list with a processing fee. Following Department of Homeland Security vetting, approved applicants can stay in the US for up to 270 days without being subject to taxes on non-US income.

For companies hiring foreign employees, the Trump Corporate Gold Card costs $2 million, plus a processing fee and small annual maintenance fee. This corporate option allows transferability between employees, subject to additional fees and DHS vetting procedures.