H-1B Eligible Africans Uncertain About Relocating to the U.S

President Donald Trump is making good on his election promise to overhaul immigration in the U.S. And his Executive Orders are affecting high skilled workers in faraway Africa, many of whom would have been in line to apply for the H-1B registration beginning in March 2025. President Trump’s new immigration policies have led to stricter visa requirements, raising significant concerns for immigrants looking to relocate to the United States. Africans applying for work, study, or family visas are faced with heightened scrutiny, increased rejection rates, and longer processing times, creating the feeling of being targeted by the Trump Administration. 

Particularly, significant increase in H-1B fees and application requirements means that fewer U.S. employers will be willing to sponsor immigrant workers from Africa since approval of the H-1B petition is not guaranteed.

Overall, the current situation could also negatively impact U.S employers especially in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) because visa restrictions for skilled African professionals may ultimately restrict scientific research and innovation costing the U.S dearly in the long run.

The H-1B Cap Registration for fiscal year 2026 opens at 12PM Eastern Time March 7, 2025 and closes March 24 at 12PM ET. The registration fee has increased from $10 and if the 85,000 cap is exceeded, a lottery will be conducted.