Trump Introduces Million-Dollar ‘Gold Card’ Visa, Increases Work Sponsorship Costs for Nigerians, Others
By: Israel Adeleke
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered that the president of the United States of America, Donald Trump, has signed an executive order increasing the sponsorship fee for H-1B work visas from $5,000 to $100,000 per year, a move that will significantly impact American companies hiring skilled workers from Nigeria and other countries.
OTN News further reports as gathered that the executive order, signed at the White House on Friday, marks a sweeping change to the long-standing visa programme, which has served as a gateway for foreign professionals, particularly in technology, finance, and healthcare.
OTN News recalls that the H-1B programme previously allowed U.S. firms to employ foreign workers with specialized skills for an initial three-year renewable period at a sponsorship cost of around $5,000 to $6,000 per year.
In addition to the fee hike, Trump unveiled a new “gold card” visa that grants expedited permanent residency to individuals and corporations willing to contribute between $1 million and $2 million, depending on the category.
“The main thing is, we’re going to have great people coming in, and they’re going to be paying,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
“You can prove exceptional value to the United States of America by contributing a million dollars to the United States of America.” he added.
OTN News observes from the information gathered that the administration justified the drastic increase as part of its broader crackdown on immigration, arguing that U.S. firms have long abused the H-1B programme to import cheaper foreign labour at the expense of American workers.
“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. Train Americans. Stop bringing in people to take our jobs.” he added.
However, OTN News observes that the new policy has sparked concern across multiple sectors of the U.S. economy that rely heavily on the approximately 85,000 H-1B visas issued annually. Industry experts warn that the exorbitant sponsorship fees could discourage companies from hiring foreign talent, creating potential labour shortages in high-demand fields like information technology, engineering, and medicine.
Analysts also predict that the introduction of the “gold card” visa may further tilt immigration opportunities toward the wealthy, sidelining skilled professionals who lack the means to pay for permanent residency under the new framework.
OTN News, however, observes that the executive order is expected to reshape the U.S. immigration and labour landscape in the coming months, with businesses and immigration advocates closely watching its long-term implications.
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