Trump's $100K visa fee for foreign talent: how will it affect researchers?

"The plan, released on 19 September, is to charge US$100,000 per application for an H-1B visa, which is used by many foreign-born postdoctoral fellows and some professors taking up employment at US research institutions, as well as scientists and engineers doing the same at US companies. The new fees apply to applications submitted after 21 September. The move could raise the cost of the visas, normally a few thousand dollars, by up to 26 times current levels."

"H-1B visas, which are usually valid for up to six years, are meant to allow skilled foreign workers to enter the United States to temporarily take jobs that cannot be filled by domestic workers. They are separate from other visas open to foreign-born researchers and academics such as J-1 visas for individuals participating in visitor-exchange programmes. And they are separate from F-1 visas that foreign-born graduate students typically use to study at US institutions."

"It is so far unclear whether universities will be exempt from the new fee, which is aimed at preserving more jobs for US citizens. In the announcement, Trump said that "abuse" of H-1B visas has facilitated an "influx" of foreign labour in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) that has undermined salaries and workplace conditions for US workers, and that the visas are a "national security threat" because they discourage US citizens "from pursuing careers in science and technology, risking American leadership in these fields"."

President Trump's plan would charge US$100,000 per H-1B application for submissions after 21 September, increasing typical visa costs by as much as 26 times. H-1B visas allow skilled foreign workers, including many postdoctoral fellows, professors, scientists and engineers, to take temporary US jobs when domestic workers are unavailable. The proposal intends to preserve jobs for US citizens and cites alleged H-1B abuse, lower wages, and national security concerns that discourage Americans from STEM careers. It is unclear whether universities will receive exemptions. Other visa categories such as J-1 and F-1 remain separate from H-1B eligibility and rules.

Read at Nature