On the evening of September 19th, US President Trump suddenly announced a $100,000 annual fee for all H-1B visa holders, effective September 21st. This policy swiftly triggered a strong backlash from the technology and financial industries, foreign governments like India and South Korea, and visa holders. Many expressed concern that the United States would lose a long-standing source of highly skilled international talent and leave tens of thousands of families facing hardship.
H-1B Visa Overview: America's Gateway to High-Tech Talent
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa program implemented by the United States since the 1990s, designed specifically for foreign professionals, especially high-skilled workers in fields such as science, engineering, mathematics and finance.
- Annual cap: Currently, approximately 85,000 places are awarded annually (20,000 of which are reserved for those who have obtained a master's or doctoral degree in the United States).
- Main source countries: India has long accounted for more than 70%, followed by China.
- Employer dependence: Silicon Valley technology giants such as Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Apple, as well as Wall Street financial institutions, are highly dependent on this visa to fill the STEM talent gap.
Against the backdrop of a long-standing shortage of STEM talent in the United States, the H-1B program has become a crucial channel for maintaining innovation, R&D, and competitiveness. Trump's new policies are now seen by some as a fundamental challenge to this system.
Tech giants sound the alarm: H-1B employees urgently return to the US
Trump's new policy directly targets the "talent arteries" of these companies. Amazon's internal immigration team urgently notified employees, requiring all H-1B and H-4 visa holders to remain in the United States. Employees overseas must return to the US by 12:01 a.m. on September 21st.
JPMorgan Chase's law firm issued a memo advising employees to suspend international travel, and Microsoft similarly warned that visa status could be jeopardized if employees did not return to the US within the deadline.
The H-1B visa, which US companies rely on most, may become a heavy burden
As of the end of June 2025, Amazon had more than 14,000 H-1B employees, the most in the United States; Microsoft, Meta, Apple and Google each had more than 4,000 holders.
If the new rules are implemented, each visa employee will cost companies an additional $100,000. For companies that rely on foreign technical talent, this will create significant financial pressure and even affect hiring plans and R&D investment, further weakening the United States' advantage in global technological competition.
Indian and South Korean governments: Concerned about setbacks in innovation
India's Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately stated that it was studying the impact of this policy and emphasized the shared interests of US and Indian industries in innovation. India also pointed out that this measure could have a "humanitarian impact" on immigrant families and called on the United States to properly handle the issue of family reunification.
South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it will assess the potential impact of this policy on South Korean companies and highly skilled workers. For both countries, the H-1B visa has always been an important bridge for the flow of skilled talent, but it may now become a new bottleneck.
Public opinion is divided: panic, anger and support coexist
H-1B holders panic
On social media platform X, a large number of H-1B holders expressed anxiety and fear. Since Indian professionals account for approximately 71% of H-1B visas, many described rushing back to the United States, with airports crowded with immigrant families preparing to return before the deadline.
Another major concern is the financial burden: for entry-level H-1B engineers earning less than $80,000 a year, the annual fee of $100,000 is simply unaffordable. A three-year visa costs as much as $300,000, making renewal or new application almost impossible.
Criticisms are growing: It's basically protection money
Many users denounced the policy as "reckless" and "unfair," arguing that it penalizes skilled workers and undermines the international talent base upon which the US tech industry relies. Some Indian professionals even called the policy discriminatory, questioning whether the Trump administration is targeting a specific ethnic group. Immigration experts also raised legal concerns on X, describing the fee as "protection money" and predicting future legal challenges.
Supporters believe that protecting local workers
On the other hand, some American netizens support the new policy. They believe it will force companies to examine whether they truly need foreign workers and prioritize hiring Americans. Some conservative commentators even praised Trump's approach as a way to "reset the labor market" and prevent foreign talent from stealing local opportunities.
Some netizens expressed concern that this policy would hinder American innovation, while countries like India might benefit from a return of talent. Others half-jokingly suggested that the policy would "turn immigration lawyers into billionaires." Some tech advocates called for exemptions for startups or key positions to avoid impacting competitiveness.
The White House has yet to respond to external questions, and markets and governments around the world are still awaiting further details. Legal circles generally expect this policy to face large-scale legal challenges.
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