SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON:

The Trump administration's new $100,000 annual fee for H-1B visas in the United States goes into effect Sunday, prompting some big tech companies to warn visa holders to stay in the US or quickly return.

The change could deal a big blow to the technology sector that relies heavily on skilled workers from India and China. Since taking office in January, Trump has kicked off a wide-ranging immigration crackdown, including moves to limit some forms of legal immigration.

The White House issued a major clarification Saturday to its new H-1B visa policy that had rattled the tech industry a day earlier, saying a $100,000 fee will be a "one-time" payment imposed only on new applicants.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had repeatedly said on Friday that the fee wou

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