Hey fam! Big news drop from the US: starting this Sunday, employers must shell out a one-time $100,000 fee for every H-1B visa petition 🤯. That’s right—per petition, not per year!
What’s the deal? 💼
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt made it clear on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that this isn’t an annual bill—just a one-off charge when they file your application. And if you already hold a valid H-1B visa, you can still re-enter the US without coughing up extra cash 🛂.
Industry vibes: shaken, not stirred 🍸
Major tech players like Microsoft, JPMorgan, and Amazon have been on edge, urging their H-1B colleagues to stay put in the US, according to internal memos. For startups and IT firms in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Manila, or Jakarta, this sudden policy could throw off ongoing onshore projects and remote work plans.
Global ripple effect 🌏
India, which grabbed 71% of US H-1B approvals last year, warned this could hit families hard—imagine sudden moves disrupting weddings or kids’ school calendars! Nasscom, India’s $283B IT body, flagged risks to continuity and global ops for service-export businesses.
Over in Seoul, the foreign ministry is crunching numbers to see how this change affects Korean firms and workers eyeing US assignments.
Behind the scenes: Trump’s push on immigration 🚀
Since taking office, Trump has dialed up immigration controls, and the H-1B fee hike is his latest headline-grabber. Critics say it undercuts diversity in tech teams and sidelines fresh grads from top US universities.
So, what’s next? Companies will have to decide if the new fee makes it worth sponsoring overseas talent. And for you—whether you’re coding in Chennai or designing apps in Ho Chi Minh City—it could change the playbook for landing that coveted US gig.
Stay tuned for updates, and let us know how you think this shake-up will shape the future of tech talent across South Asia & Southeast Asia! ✌️
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
