Trump signs proclamation imposing US$100,000 annual fee for H-1B visa applications

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday signed a proclamation that will require a new annual US$100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications, among other changes to the programme for highly skilled foreign workers that has come under scrutiny by the administration.

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 US citizens and permanent residents.

The programme 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 US technology workers.

Trump on Friday insisted that the tech industry would not oppose the move.

“I think they're going to be very happy,” he said.

First lady Melania Trump, the former Melania Knauss, was granted an H1-B work visa in October 1996 to work as a model. She was born in Slovenia.

The H1-B programme was created in 1990 for people with a bachelor's degree or higher in fields where jobs are deemed hard to fill, especially science, technology, engineering and math. Critics say they allow companies to pay lower wages with fewer labour protections.

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