Group 1 - The new regulation signed by President Trump increases the annual fee for H-1B visa applicants from several thousand dollars to $100,000, effective from September 21 [1][4] - Major tech companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have advised their H-1B visa holders to remain in the U.S. and avoid international travel to prevent complications due to the new policy [2][4] - The H-1B visa program is crucial for U.S. tech companies, with Amazon alone having over 14,000 approved H-1B visas in the first three quarters of the fiscal year 2025 [2][8] Group 2 - The White House clarified that the new fee applies only to future applicants and does not affect current visa holders or those already in the lottery for 2025 [4][5] - The H-1B visa program has been a point of contention, with supporters arguing it brings in necessary talent while critics claim it depresses wages and affects local job markets [8][9] - Approximately 71%-72% of H-1B visas are issued to Indian nationals, making India the largest beneficiary of the program [9][10] Group 3 - The Indian government expressed concerns that the new fee could disrupt families and lead to humanitarian issues, urging the U.S. to address these challenges [10] - The Indian IT sector is expected to engage with U.S. counterparts to mitigate the impact of the new fee structure [9][10] - The introduction of a "golden card" program by Trump allows foreign nationals to obtain expedited visa processing by paying $1 million or having companies sponsor them for $2 million [11][12]

Group 1 - The introduction of the "Trump Gold Card" allows individuals to obtain U.S. residency by paying $1 million or $2 million through corporate sponsorship, significantly reducing the initial price from $5 million [2][4] - The "Trump Gold Card" program is expected to issue approximately 80,000 cards and is currently in a trial phase, with the potential to replace existing EB-1 and EB-2 visa categories [4][5] - The increase in H-1B visa fees to $100,000 aims to compel U.S. companies to hire domestic employees instead of foreign workers, which may lead to operational challenges for major firms reliant on skilled foreign labor [7][8] Group 2 - The proposed changes to immigration and visa policies reflect a shift in focus from attracting skilled talent to targeting high-net-worth individuals, which may undermine the competitiveness of U.S. industries [10] - The financial implications of these policies are significant, with the Trump administration projecting potential revenue increases in the hundreds of billions, although the actual effectiveness of these measures remains uncertain [9][10] - The current U.S. national debt stands at $36.7 trillion, and the fiscal strategies employed by the Trump administration, including tax cuts and increased tariffs, are projected to exacerbate the federal deficit in the coming years [10]

Group 1 - The "Trump Gold Card" program allows individuals to obtain U.S. residency by paying $1 million or $2 million through corporate sponsorship, significantly reducing the initial price from $5 million announced earlier this year [1][3] - The program is divided into three categories: the "Gold Card" for individuals, the "Platinum Card" for longer stays, and the "Corporate Gold Card" for companies sponsoring employees [3][4] - The introduction of the "Gold Card" effectively undermines the existing EB-1 and EB-2 visa programs, which were designed to attract skilled talent to the U.S. [4][5] Group 2 - The increase in H-1B visa fees to $100,000 aims to compel U.S. companies to hire domestic workers instead of foreign employees, particularly in tech and finance sectors [5][6] - Major U.S. companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have been the largest users of H-1B visas, with a significant portion of visa holders coming from India [5][6] - The new fee structure may lead to a reevaluation of relationships between large corporations and the Trump administration, as companies face challenges in hiring skilled labor [6][7] Group 3 - Trump's economic policies, characterized by tax cuts domestically and increased tariffs internationally, are seen as attempts to address a growing fiscal deficit, which has reached $36.7 trillion [7][8] - The administration's focus on monetizing visas reflects a shift from attracting technical talent to prioritizing high-net-worth individuals, potentially compromising U.S. competitiveness [7][8] - The overall strategy may backfire, as the U.S. risks losing its appeal to global talent and wealthy individuals due to these aggressive policy changes [8]

Core Points - The Trump administration has introduced a new visa program called the "Trump Gold Card," aimed at attracting wealthy individuals to the U.S. by offering expedited residency for a fee of up to $5 million [1][3] - The program is expected to generate significant revenue for the U.S. government, with estimates suggesting it could raise over $100 billion [3] - The visa program includes different tiers, with the Gold Card costing $1 million and the Platinum Card costing $5 million, allowing holders to stay in the U.S. for up to 270 days without being taxed on foreign income [4] Visa Program Details - The Trump Gold Card requires a $1 million application fee, followed by a $1 million payment after a review by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) [4] - Companies can obtain Gold Cards for employees at a cost of $2 million each, with the ability to transfer the card between employees [4] - The program's website is operational, allowing applicants to submit their information, although the exact issuance timeline remains unclear [4] Legal and Congressional Considerations - Immigration experts indicate that the new visa program may require congressional approval, as the president cannot create new visa categories without legislative authorization [5] - It is uncertain whether the Gold Card program will replace the existing EB-5 visa program, which currently has a lower investment threshold of $800,000 [5] - There are concerns that the program could face legal challenges due to its preferential treatment of wealthy applicants [5] Market Reactions and Policy Implications - The introduction of the Gold Card program coincides with the Trump administration's tightening of other immigration pathways, including increased fees for H-1B visas [6] - The new $100,000 fee for H-1B visas is expected to raise costs for tech companies hiring foreign workers, leading to negative market reactions, including declines in stock prices for IT consulting firms [6] - The administration's focus is shifting towards attracting top talent while limiting immigration from lower-skilled workers [6]