On September 21, the U.S. president signed a proclamation boosting the employer fee for each H-1B visa application from a few thousand dollars to $100,000 per worker per year. 🤯
The H-1B visa is a work permit for skilled foreign professionals in specialty roles like IT, engineering and R&D. Many young talent from India, Vietnam and the Philippines eye it for top tech gigs in Silicon Valley.
According to the White House, systemic abuse of the program has led to large-scale replacement of American workers. The idea is simple: if companies must pay six figures, they’ll think twice and hire more local talent.
Under the new rules, which kick in for entries after September 21, only petitions backed by the $100K fee get approved. If employers skip the payment, their applicants face entry restrictions. The annual cap remains at 85,000 visas.
This hike hits big tech giants like Amazon, Google and Microsoft hard—these firms have long relied on H-1B for roles from software development to data science. Now CFOs vs. HR must decide: is that foreign hire worth the price tag? 💸
Experts warn this could backfire by pushing more jobs offshore—think Bangalore, Jakarta or Manila R&D centers—and supercharging remote work trends across South and Southeast Asia. 🌏
For international students chasing a U.S. degree, the steep post-grad hiring costs might be a deal-breaker. Expect more eyeballs on local tech hubs and hybrid models in Singapore, Bengaluru or Ho Chi Minh City.
Bottom line: this fee jump is a game-changer for Asian tech talent. Whether it sparks more homegrown opportunities or fuels remote hiring, one thing’s clear: global talent flows are in for a wild ride. Buckle up! 🚀
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
