New H-1B visa fee shakes up tech
A new, one-time fee of $100,000 for the H-1B visa is upending the recruitment plans of Big Tech and startups. Companies are turning to offshoring and AI, lawyers are preparing lawsuits, and the USA is passing the test of attractiveness for talent.
Imagine you’re the head of a tech company and suddenly find out that every new foreign specialist will cost you an additional $100,000. That’s the “gift” the White House has prepared for businesses, announcing a new one-time fee for new applications for the popular H-1B work visas. The decision has shaken up moods and forced corporations to do quick calculations, while experts ponder the future of Silicon Valley.
US President, Donald Trump, signed an executive order sending a wave of panic through the industry. Initial reports spoke of a $100,000 annual fee. At companies like Microsoft and Amazon, phones rang off the hook as some H-1B visa holders received alerts to not leave or to return quickly to the US before the changes took effect. Hours later, the White House clarified that it was a one-time fee for the application, with no impact on holders of valid visas or on renewals, and the change essentially affects only new applications from the 2026 cycle.
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