Trump to sign proclamation imposing $100K fee for H-1B visa applications, White House official says

"President Donald Trump is preparing to sign a proclamation that will require a $100,000 application fee for H-1B visa applications among other changes to the program for highly skilled foreign workers that has come under scrutiny by the administration, according to a White House official. The signing could come as early as Friday, the official said. The official was granted anonymity to speak in advance of the proclamation signing. The proposed proclamation was first reported by Bloomberg News."

"H-1B visas are meant to bring the best and brightest foreigners for high-skilled jobs that tech companies find difficult to fill with qualified U.S. citizens and permanent residents. The program instead has turned into a pipeline for overseas workers who are often willing to work for as little as $60,000 annually. That is far less than $100,000-plus salaries typically paid to U.S. technology workers."

"Geographically, California has the highest number of H-1B workers, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Critics say H-1B spots often go to entry-level jobs, rather than senior positions with unique skill requirements. And while the program isn't supposed to undercut U.S. wages or displace U.S. workers, critics say companies can pay less by classifying jobs at the lowest skill levels, even if the specific workers hired have more experience."

President Donald Trump will sign a proclamation that imposes a $100,000 application fee for H-1B visa applications and implements other changes to the highly skilled worker program. A White House official said the signing could occur as early as Friday; the official spoke on condition of anonymity. H-1B visas were created in 1990 for bachelor's-degree holders in fields that are hard to fill, especially STEM. The program has been criticized for becoming a pipeline for overseas workers willing to accept salaries as low as $60,000, and for allowing companies to undercut U.S. wages by classifying positions at low skill levels.

Read at www.mercurynews.com