In a move that has stirred the immigration pot yet again, President Donald J. Trump has issued a Proclamation aimed at tightening the entry protocols for certain H-1B visa applicants. This new directive mandates a payment of $100,000 to accompany H-1B petitions for new applications, a measure purportedly designed to curb the alleged exploitation that displaces American workers and poses a threat to national security.
- The Proclamation stipulates that nonimmigrant aliens wishing to enter the U.S. under the H-1B program for specialty occupations must submit their petitions alongside the hefty $100,000 fee. It seems the price of entry into the American job market just got a little steeper.
- The directive also instructs the Secretary of Homeland Security to limit the approval of petitions from aliens currently outside the U.S. unless they come with the requisite payment. However, there’s a twist: case-by-case exemptions can be made if deemed necessary for the national interest. Because who doesn’t love a little bureaucratic flexibility?
- Employers are now required to keep meticulous documentation of these payments, with the Secretary of State stepping in to verify payment during the petition review process. If applicants fail to cough up the cash, both the Departments of State and Homeland Security have been empowered to deny entry. It’s almost as if they’re treating immigration like a high-stakes poker game.
- Moreover, the Departments of Labor and Homeland Security are tasked with issuing joint guidelines for the verification, enforcement, audits, and penalties associated with this new policy. In the grand scheme of things, it sounds like a bureaucratic dance that could rival any reality TV show.
- Lastly, the Proclamation calls upon the Secretary of Labor to kickstart rulemaking aimed at revising the prevailing wage levels for H-1B positions. Simultaneously, the Secretary of Homeland Security is directed to prioritize high-skilled, high-paid H-1B workers. It seems that in this new era, not only do you need to pay to play, but you better bring your A-game when it comes to skills and salary.
