Donald Trump has announced major changes to the H-1B working visa system.
The White House issued a major clarification on Saturday to its new H-1B visa policy that had rattled the tech industry, saying a $100,000 (R1.74 million) fee will be a "one-time" payment imposed only on new applicants.
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, in announcing the major fee increase on Friday, said it would be paid annually and would apply to people seeking a new visa as well as renewals.
But White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a clarification on Saturday, hours before the new policy was to go into effect.
"This is NOT an annual fee. It's a one-time fee that applies... only to new visas, not renewals, and not current visa holders," she said in a social media post.
The new fee could have major repercussions for the tech industry, where such permits are prolific.
"The main thing is, we're going to have great people coming in, and they're going to be paying," Trump told reporters as he signed the orders in the Oval Office.