It has been reported that Trump signed a proclamation to raise the issuance fee for the H-1B professional employment visa to a staggering $100,000.

The H-1B visa allows foreign professionals with at least a bachelor's degree, or equivalent, to live and work in the U.S. with their families, and it also offers a pathway to permanent residency, making it a popular choice for many global talents pursuing the 'American Dream.'

Big tech companies like Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Tesla, and Meta have secured many talents from abroad through this system.

When this visa was introduced in the 1990s, there was a shortage of skilled workers in the U.S. high-tech industry. As a result, tens of thousands of people have been able to work in the U.S. through this visa each year. During the dot-com bubble of the 2000s, demand exploded, and at one point, the number of applicants reached 195,000.

However, it has since returned to its original numbers, with a structure that now allows for a basic quota of 65,000, plus an additional 20,000 for those with U.S. master's degrees or higher, totaling 85,000 each year.

The appeal of this visa lies in the fact that employers sponsor it, allowing for stable career progression, and after a certain period, it can lead to permanent residency.

As a result, many engineers, doctors, accountants, and professors in Silicon Valley are H-1B visa holders.

Many start as employees but later become startup founders or key talents in global corporations.

However, the competition is fierce.

In the past, it was common for applications to close just days after opening, but now, a lottery system has been introduced, creating a lottery-like atmosphere.

In the 2024 fiscal year, over 750,000 applications were submitted, but only about 12% were selected.

This has led companies to submit multiple applications through agencies to increase their chances, while the government is tightening regulations.

The evaluation of the H-1B visa is a double-edged sword.

On one hand, it is viewed positively as a way for the U.S. to bring in the world's best talents to maintain its leadership in IT, medicine, and research, but on the other hand, it faces criticism for "taking jobs away from Americans."

However, in the long run, it is also true that foreign talents come, pay taxes, consume, and create new jobs. In fact, the technological competitiveness of the U.S. can be said to stem from the sweat and intellect of immigrants.

Ultimately, the H-1B is not just a visa; it is an important system that shows how the U.S. attracts and retains global talents, with hundreds of thousands challenging for it each year, and only a tiny fraction getting the opportunity to continue their careers in the U.S.

For some, it is a big chance in life, while for others, it can be a source of frustration, but the entire process constitutes an important part of U.S. immigration history. However, if the issuance fee becomes $100,000, it seems that obtaining the visa will become much more difficult in the future.