The announcement sent ripples across the technology and outsourcing sectors, which rely heavily on the visa program to staff technical roles. The White House is expected to release a proclamation as soon as Friday that would bar entry under the H-1B program unless the payment is made, according to a White House official familiar with the plan. Today, companies pay $215 to register for the visa lottery and $780 to submit the I-129 petition for a non-immigrant worker. Amazon received more than 10,000 H-1B approvals in 2025, while Microsoft and Meta each secured more than 5,000, according to U.S. Critics of the visa system argue that it has been exploited to undercut wages for American workers and displace domestic talent.