Trump’s new $100,000 H1-B visa fee is shaking things up, especially for industries here in Guam that thrive on skilled foreign talent. The H-1B visa has long been a crucial lifeline for sectors like tech and healthcare, offering companies access to professionals when local talent runs thin. With the new six-figure fee slapped onto the visa application, the landscape is looking a bit daunting for businesses and workers alike.

The H-1B visa isn’t just any work permit; it’s a ticket for professionals in specialized fields who might otherwise leave the U.S. after earning their degrees. Typically, 65,000 new visas are granted each year, plus another 20,000 for advanced degree holders. But now, under Trump’s latest executive order, new petitioners will face a hefty $100,000 fee just to apply. The rationale? President Trump argues it’ll help keep the best and brightest in the country. Companies might feel like they’re making a high-stakes investment, similar to a signing bonus in pro sports.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick insists that this move is about prioritizing American workers and eliminating foreign hiring abuses. He’s pushing for big firms to hire locals instead of, say, tech whizzes from every corner of the globe. However, for communities like Guam, this sudden financial barrier feels like a knockout punch. Local immigration attorney, Shane Black, points out that while there are issues at the national level, Guam’s job market is already struggling to fill critical roles, making the H-1B visa program essential for everything from local businesses to military projects.

Black calls out the irony: many H-1B holders are highly educated professionals filling roles that require U.S. degrees. If local education doesn’t keep pace, this new fee isn’t going to magically solve our workforce shortages. For now, this steep fee only applies to new applicants in the lottery—current H-1B holders can breathe a little easier as they navigate this shifting terrain.

So, while the vibe has shifted dramatically with this $100,000 fee, Black suggests keeping calm for now. There’s a lot of noise around this issue, and the specifics on implementation are still murky. Plus, maybe we’ll see exceptions made for unique areas like ours. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and stay tuned, because the next few months are going to be critical for how Guam’s businesses, government, and our local tech community adjust to this high-stakes challenge.