Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee Threatens US Job Prospects for Jamaican Teachers
Jamaicans hoping to teach in the United States under the H-1B visa programme face a major setback after President Donald Trump signed an executive order introducing a steep US$100,000 (approximately J$15.4 million) application fee.
The order, set to take effect on 21 September, will apply only to new visa requests from February 2026. It excludes current visa holders and those who participated in the 2025 lottery.
For years, Jamaican teachers have relied on the H-1B programme to take up employment opportunities in the US, where demand for educators remains high. Until now, applicants paid administrative fees of about US$1,500.
The new fee is expected to discourage schools from sponsoring foreign teachers. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that institutions must now decide whether an applicant is “valuable enough” to justify the six-figure cost, or if they should “hire an American.”
While White House officials clarified the fee is a one-time charge, it is still expected to sharply reduce opportunities for Jamaican teachers and other skilled professionals.
The US issues a maximum of 85,000 H-1B visas annually. Data shows applications have already declined, dropping to around 359,000 for the next fiscal year — a four-year low.
Jamaica’s teaching sector has long faced shortages due to migration, with hundreds of educators leaving each year for higher-paying jobs abroad.
While the new cost barrier may reduce the outflow of teachers and ease pressure on local schools, it is also likely to make the overseas pathway far less accessible, leaving many Jamaican educators uncertain about their prospects in the US.
India’s trade body Nasscom has already raised concerns about the sudden implementation of the measure, calling it a source of “considerable uncertainty for businesses, professionals, and students across the world.”
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