On the 23rd of September  2025, the Trump administration introduced a new annual fee of $100,000 for H-1B visa applications. The H-1B visa is a U.S. work permit that enables companies to employ foreign professionals in specialized fields such as information technology, healthcare, and engineering.

These measures will fundamentally change access to the U.S. labor and residency market. While the H-1B has historically enabled global tech talent, engineers, medical professionals, and other skilled workers to contribute to the American economy, the proposed fee hike is likely to price out many employers and applicants, limiting use of the program. By contrast, the investor-focused Gold and Platinum visas reinforce a shift toward privileging high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) over skilled professionals.

Who is Affected

The policy will primarily impact skilled professionals who rely on H-1B sponsorship, including engineers, IT specialists, healthcare workers, and researchers. For employers, particularly startups, scale-ups, and research institutions, the new cost makes routine H-1B hiring unsustainable. IT services firms that place large numbers of H-1B workers are also directly exposed.

International students, whose post-study career path often flows from F-1 to OPT and then to H-1B, may see opportunities dry up. On the other hand, high-net-worth individuals stand to benefit, as the Gold and Platinum cards provide an unprecedented route to U.S. residency for wealthy investors.

Impacts and Implications

In the short term, companies are likely to issue internal guidance warning employees against international travel or status changes, while simultaneously pausing new H-1B sponsorships. For individuals, this translates into rising uncertainty about relocation, career progression, and permanent residency.

Over the medium term, reduced H-1B filings will push firms to increase local hiring, shift to remote work outside the U.S., or restructure operations. Startups and mid-sized firms, in particular, may face escalating costs and talent shortages. Legal challenges are expected, which could delay or reshape the policy.

Longer term, the U.S. immigration system may see a structural shift—fewer early-career foreign hires and more wealthy investors gaining residency—potentially accelerating the relocation of specialist teams and innovation hubs overseas.

Matters Arising

Several key questions follow from the proclamation. Immigration fee structures and visa categories are typically determined by Congress, not solely by executive order. This raises constitutional concerns over presidential authority. The rushed rollout also raises procedural issues around notice and due process, while uncertainty persists regarding exemptions for universities, nonprofits, or existing H-1B holders.

For high-net-worth individuals, the Platinum Card introduces complex tax and residency questions. Provisions suggesting limited U.S. tax exposure on non-U.S. income for up to 270 days could create both opportunities and risks, requiring careful tax structuring and compliance planning.

What are the  Alternatives?

Although the H-1B pathway is under significant strain, several established alternatives remain open, many of which offer faster, more flexible, or strategically beneficial routes for high-net-worth individuals, their families, and the companies they own or manage.

• Gold Card Program- The Gold Card program is a premium fast-track route to U.S. residency. Individuals are required to pay minimum contribution of one million dollars ($1 million), while corporations sponsoring foreign professionals must contribute two million dollars($2 million) under the corporate scheme. In return, applicants are granted lawful permanent residency, similar to a Green Card, and are offered a pathway to U.S. citizenship once they meet the relevant residency requirements. Once Gold card is acquired, individuals may no longer require the need for an H-1B visa. The initiative is already in partial rollout, though still subject to legal and congressional scrutiny. Its proponents argue that it provides a modernized alternative to the existing EB-5 investor visa program, generating government revenue while attracting global wealth. Critics, however, caution that it establishes a “pay-to-stay” precedent that favors the ultra-wealthy at the expense of more merit-based immigration pathways.
• Platinum Card Program- The Platinum Card is an even more exclusive offer, targeted at individuals who value flexibility and tax efficiency over permanent settlement. With a five million dollar ($5 million) contribution requirement, it is considerably more expensive than the Gold Card. Unlike the Gold Card, however, the Platinum Card does not automatically grant permanent residency. Instead, it allows its holders to spend up to 270 days a year in the United States without being considered full tax residents. This provision carries a significant financial advantage: foreign income earned by Platinum Card holders remains exempt from U.S. taxation, provided they remain within the stipulated stay limits. While highly attractive to globally mobile elites, the program is still in its proposal stage, and many of its provisions will likely require congressional approval. Its generous tax treatment has also sparked debate, with critics warning that it risks creating loopholes in the U.S. tax system while deepening inequalities in access to residency.

Non-Immigrant (Temporary) Options

• L-1 (Intra-company Transferee) – Enables executives, managers, or employees with specialized knowledge to transfer from a foreign office to a U.S. affiliate. This allows HNWI-owned companies to expand into the U.S. while positioning family members or trusted executives to run operations. It can also serve as a stepping stone toward permanent residency.
• O-1 (Extraordinary Ability) – Designed for individuals with exceptional achievements in business, science, arts, or sports. It provides recognition for accomplished entrepreneurs, investors, or professionals. It has no annual cap and can lead to long-term residency through EB-1 eligibility.
• E-2 (Treaty Investor)—Available to nationals of treaty countries who make a substantial investment in a U.S. business. Especially appealing to investors seeking residency through business ownership. It allows family members to live and study in the U.S., while spouses may work freely.
• F-1 / OPT (Student : Practical Training)—Enables international students to study in the U.S. and gain work experience after graduation. A valuable entry point for the next generation of wealthy families, providing world-class education and an early foothold in the U.S. market.
• H-2B (Temporary Non-Agricultural) – For seasonal or temporary workers in specific industries. Limited in scope but useful for HNWIs with investments in U.S. hospitality, construction, or related businesses requiring seasonal labor.

Permanent Residency and Investor Pathways

• EB-1 – This is for individuals with extraordinary ability, outstanding researchers, and multinational executives. The EB-1 visa Offers a faster route to a green card, ideal for HNWIs who are recognized leaders in their industries or who manage global enterprises.
• EB-2 with National Interest Waiver (NIW) – For advanced professionals or individuals whose work significantly benefits the U.S. The EB-2 visa allows self-petition without employer sponsorship, giving entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors more independence in structuring their applications.
• EB-5 (Immigrant Investor Program) – Requires a qualifying capital investment that creates jobs in the U.S. The EB-5 visa Provides a direct path to permanent residency for investors and their families. It is one of the most established investor-residency routes, making it highly reliable.

Employers should review ongoing H-1B sponsorships, reassess which roles are critical, and evaluate alternative visa categories. Forward-looking companies may also need to explore remote-first hiring or building foreign R&D hubs.

For individuals, avoiding unnecessary international travel until guidance is clarified is prudent. Those with strong credentials should prepare documentation to pursue alternative applications, while families may wish to explore EB-2 NIW or EB-5 options.

High-net-worth individuals should carefully weigh the Gold and Platinum cards against established investor programs, supported by comprehensive tax and residency planning to avoid unexpected exposure.

How FSL Can Support You

At Fiduciary Services Limited, we specialize in helping high-net-worth families and individuals turn policy shifts into opportunities. Through our bespoke Citizenship and Residency Planning (CRP) solutions, we enable you to:

• Secure residency or second citizenship in stable, compliant jurisdictions.
• Align U.S. and global residency choices with estate planning, wealth preservation, and tax optimization.
• Safeguard family mobility, ensuring uninterrupted access to key global markets.
• Reduce exposure to shifting geopolitical and legislative risks.

We do more than provide options; we craft strategies tailored to your legacy, lifestyle, and long-term vision in other jurisdictions like Malta, Greece, St.Nevis & Kitts, Portugal etc.

Download our Citizenship and Residency Brochure to explore programs.
Or book a complimentary 30-minute consultation with our experts today to structure your path with confidence.