The H-1B program offers 65,000 visas annually to employers bringing in temporary foreign workers in specialized fields, with another 20,000 visas for workers with advanced degrees. The H-1B fees range from 1,700 to 4,500 USD and are usually paid by the employers.

"If you're going to train somebody, you're going to train one of the recent graduates from one of the great universities across our land," said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Train Americans. Stop bringing in people to take our jobs."

Experts warned the higher fees may cause tech companies to move jobs abroad and make the US education system less attractive to international students.

President Trump also signed an executive order on Friday to create a "gold card" for individuals who can afford to pay 1 million USD for US permanent residency.

Commerce Secretary Lutnick said the gold card will replace the current EB-1 and EB-2 visa programs for people who are of “exceptional value” to the United States. He said it would raise 100 billion USD, which Trump suggested could be used to lower taxes and pay down the federal debt.

However, legal experts say the President cannot create a new visa category without congressional approval, and warn that the “gold card” could face legal challenges because it creates a new “priority lane” in US immigration policy.