$1M “Gold Card” Residency: Trump’s New Move to Favor U.S. Workers

President Donald Trump has announced sweeping new immigration fees that could reshape the tech industry and permanent residency process. Companies sponsoring H-1B visas — widely used to hire foreign tech workers — will now face a $100,000 annual application fee, while a newly created “gold card” for permanent residency will cost $1 million. Trump says the move prioritizes American workers and ensures only “extraordinary” talent remains in the U.S., while Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick emphasized that major tech firms are already on board. Critics warn the steep costs could upend immigration trends and global workforce competition.