U.S. President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order imposing a $100,000 fee on all H-1B visa applications, marking the latest crackdown on foreign workers seeking job opportunities in the United States.

According to a White House official, the order — expected to be signed on Friday, September 19 — will require applicants to pay the hefty fee before being considered for entry under the program.

The Trump administration has long argued that the H-1B visa system, which brings in hundreds of thousands of skilled workers annually, allows companies to exploit foreign labor at lower wages, ultimately affecting U.S. salaries.

Critics, however, warn that the new fee could have severe implications for the tech industry, which relies heavily on skilled workers from India and China. “If the U.S. ceases to attract the best talent, it drastically reduces its ability to innovate and grow the economy,” said Deedy Das, partner at Menlo Ventures.

Big tech companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta may be able to absorb the costs, but smaller firms and startups could struggle to compete.

India accounted for 71% of all H-1B visas approved last year, with China a distant second at 11.7%.