Donald Trump signed an executive order that imposes a $100,000 (£74,000) annual fee on applicants to the H-1B visa scheme designed for skilled workers.

The president announced the new fee on Friday, prompting some major US tech firms to advise visa holders to either remain in the country or return there quickly.

The new fee, which comes into force from Sunday, marks Washington’s latest attempt to overhaul the country’s temporary employment visa system.

The change could signal a major overhaul of the technology sector, which contributed millions of dollars to Mr Trump’s presidential campaign and relies heavily on skilled workers from India and China.

India accounts for almost three-quarters of approved beneficiaries of H-1B visas, while China makes up a much smaller proportion, almost 12%, according to government data.

The executive order comes as the Trump administration enacts a large-scale crackdown on immigration, targeting undocumented migrants and cutting off legal pathways such as the Temporary Protected Status programme and humanitarian parole protections.

While the visa changes are likely to be hailed as a victory by immigration hawks on Capitol Hill, there are worries they could become a thorn in the side of tech executives used to recruiting top talent from abroad.

On Friday, Trump assured reporters: “The main thing is, we’re going to have great people coming in, and they’re going to be paying.”

“I think they’re going to be very happy. Everyone’s going to be happy,” he said of tech companies.