Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee could hurt US growth, economists warn

Move is a blow to big tech companies, which rely heavily on visas to hire staff from overseas, particularly India

Donald Trump’s decision to impose a $100,000 (£74,096) fee on H1-B visas for skilled foreign workers could hurt US economic growth, economists have warned.

Trump signed a proclamation on Friday introducing the application fee for the H-1B visa, 60 times the current cost, in a move designed to encourage companies to hire more American workers.

The increase represents a blow to big tech companies, which rely heavily on such visas to hire engineers, scientists and coders from overseas, particularly India.