Nigerian doctors, engineers and tech experts eyeing careers in the United States face a crushing new hurdle after President Donald Trump signed a proclamation slamming an annual $100,000 (roughly ₦150 million fee on H-1B visas.
The fee – up from the current $1,500 – marks the heaviest blow yet in Washington’s immigration squeeze, following a recent $15,000 bond for some tourist visas and a travel ban on 12 countries.
“This is about training Americans, not importing people to take our jobs”, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick declared at the White House on Friday. “Big companies are on board”.
The H-1B programme, a lifeline for foreign professionals in medicine, technology and engineering, grants three-to-six-year work permits. Nigerian workers, who form a significant part of America’s healthcare and tech pipelines, are expected to feel the brunt.
The impact could also shake Silicon Valley, which depends heavily on foreign talent. In just six months this year, Amazon secured over 10,000 H-1B visas, while Microsoft and Meta each gained more than 5,000 approvals.
The US typically issues 65,000 H-1B visas annually, plus 20,000 for advanced degree holders. Critics say the programme suppresses American wages, but defenders — including billionaire Elon Musk — argue it keeps the country globally competitive.
With Trump’s latest move, the cost of chasing the American dream has never been higher for Nigerian professionals.
