美國總統川普在9月19日突然簽署公告，要求企業在為H-1B工作簽證申請人提出申請時，必須支付高達10萬美元的費用。這一消息震驚全球，尤其是嚴重依賴此類簽證的印度籍技術勞工與美國大型科技公司。川普在公告中強調，此舉是為確保美國能真正引進「高技能、不可被美國人取代的人才」，避免外國勞工以相對低廉的薪資搶占美國本土就業機會。

隨後，美國商務部長霍華德·盧特尼克在公開場合補充說明，這筆10萬美元的費用將「按年繳納」，並適用於首次申請與續簽的情況。但由於細節尚未明確，消息一出立即在企業界引發巨大恐慌。亞馬遜、微軟等依賴國際技術人才的美國科技巨頭，立刻提醒員工不要離境，並建議仍在海外的員工盡快返美，以避免在新規正式生效後遭遇難以承受的費用。許多印度籍工程師更是陷入混亂，急於訂機票返回美國，但航班一票難求，場面一度陷入焦慮與恐慌。

外界普遍批評川普政府的這項新規「短視」，認為這將對美國科技產業造成沉重打擊。特別是硅谷多年來嚴重依賴H-1B簽證計畫引進高技能人才，若成本驟增，企業勢必難以承擔，長遠來看恐將削弱美國的創新優勢與全球競爭力。

面對各界的強烈反彈與誤解，白宮於隔日（9月20日）迅速出面澄清。白宮發言人卡洛琳·萊維特透過社群平台X發文，強調這筆10萬美元的費用並非「年費」，而是一筆「一次性費用」，僅適用於未來參加H-1B抽籤的新申請人，不適用於現有簽證持有人，也不影響續簽或持有有效簽證者重新入境。換言之，已經持有有效H-1B簽證的外國人才仍可自由往返美國，不會因這筆費用受阻。

白宮同時指出，此舉的目的在於「為美國工人創造公平競爭環境」，因為目前大量H-1B持有者以相對低薪進入美國就業市場，確實對本土勞工造成壓力。不過，白宮也在隨後發佈的說明文件中表示，如果申請案被認定符合「國家利益」，可豁免這10萬美元的費用。

數據顯示，H-1B簽證每年配額為6.5萬份，另有2萬份專門保留給擁有美國研究生學位的外國人。印度是H-1B簽證的最大受益國，去年獲批比例高達71%，遠高於其他國家。這使得新規一旦落實，對印度科技人才影響最為直接。印度政府在9月20日隨即發出警告，稱美方此舉不僅將對印度勞工造成沉重打擊，還可能帶來「人道主義後果」，並呼籲川普政府慎重處理此事，以免引發更大層面的爭議與衝擊。

整體而言，此次H-1B簽證新規不僅暴露美國內部「保障本土勞工」與「依賴國際人才」間的矛盾，也凸顯美印之間的敏感關係。若費用政策持續推行，恐怕不僅會改變全球高科技人才流向，還可能對美國自身的科技與經濟發展造成深遠影響。

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a sudden proclamation on September 19, announcing that companies applying for H-1B work visas would be required to pay a fee of $100,000 per application. The decision shocked the global tech community, especially Indian workers and U.S. companies that heavily rely on foreign talent. Trump justified the move by claiming it was meant to ensure that America attracts only “highly skilled workers who cannot be replaced by Americans,” while preventing foreign labor from taking U.S. jobs at lower wages.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick initially suggested that the fee would be charged annually and apply to both new applications and renewals, though he admitted details were still under discussion. This statement triggered panic in the corporate world. Major tech firms like Amazon and Microsoft immediately advised their employees not to leave the country and urged those abroad to return quickly before the new rules took effect. Many Indian engineers scrambled to book flights back to the U.S., leading to chaos as tickets quickly sold out.

Critics widely condemned the plan as “short-sighted,” warning that it would impose heavy costs on U.S. tech companies, which have long depended on the H-1B program to bring in skilled foreign workers. They argued that raising costs so drastically could undermine America’s innovation ecosystem and global competitiveness.

Facing the backlash and confusion, the White House issued an urgent clarification on September 20. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on X that the $100,000 fee was not an annual charge, but rather a one-time fee that applies only to future H-1B lottery applications. She emphasized that the rule does not apply to current visa holders, renewals, or re-entry into the U.S. with a valid H-1B visa. In other words, foreign professionals already working in the U.S. can continue to travel normally without paying the fee.

The White House further explained that the measure is aimed at “creating a level playing field for American workers,” who are increasingly competing against lower-paid foreign labor. However, it also noted that applications deemed in the “national interest” could be exempt from the fee.

Currently, the U.S. issues 65,000 H-1B visas annually, with an additional 20,000 reserved for applicants holding U.S. graduate degrees. India is by far the largest beneficiary of the program, accounting for 71% of approvals last year. As a result, Indian workers and businesses are expected to be hit hardest by the change. On September 20, the Indian government issued a strong warning, stating that the new rule could have “humanitarian consequences” and urged the Trump administration to reconsider.

Overall, the sudden visa fee policy highlights the deep tension in the U.S. between protecting domestic workers and sustaining reliance on global talent. If the $100,000 charge is enforced, it could reshape global talent flows while also placing long-term strain on the U.S. tech industry and its relationship with India.