H-1B Under Pressure: Can Trump’s Fee Protect U.S. Jobs Without Hurting Innovation?

Imagine paying USD 100,000 fee just to bring in quality talent for a job with the H-1B program.

That is the reality some of America’s largest technology companies may soon face under a proposal from the Trump administration, which set out to attach a six-figure fee to every new H-1B visa application.

The H-1B program has long been the gateway for U.S. firms to bring in highly skilled foreign professionals, from software engineers to data scientists. With only 65,000 visas available each year and demand far outstripping supply, the program is both prized and fiercely competitive. For companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, it has been a vital pipeline for talent that keeps innovation moving.

The new fee is framed as a safeguard against misuse. Supporters argue it would curb staffing firms that rely on lower-paid workers, while the Department of Homeland Security has gone further, suggesting the system should tilt in favor of applicants tied to higher salaries. But the question for investors is whether these changes protect American workers or risk pushing critical talent and future innovation offshore.

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Visa Fee Debate Highlights Big Tech’s Hiring Advantage

Some major technology leaders have expressed cautious support for the proposed H-1B fee, noting that it could reduce low-value filings and create greater predictability in the process. Others, however, worry the change would disproportionately benefit large, well-capitalised firms while putting additional strain on smaller companies. For early-stage ventures, hiring is already a high-risk exercise, and management quality is often the key driver of long-term value and growth.

Recent USCIS data highlight how concentrated H-1B approvals are among industry leaders. In fiscal 2025, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, Google, and major IT services firms were among the top recipients. This trend is particularly relevant as compensation for specialised roles such as AI developers and quantitative researchers can exceed USD 400,000 annually, underscoring both the cost and strategic importance of attracting top-tier talent.

The Investors Takeaway

For investors, the key takeaway is that the proposed fee would increase hiring costs, forcing companies to be more deliberate in assessing whether overseas talent is truly essential rather than simply filling quotas. 

While this creates an additional burden, it may also strengthen the position of large, cash-rich firms with the balance sheet capacity to absorb higher costs. At the same time, a wage-based selection process would incentivise employers to offer higher salaries to improve approval odds, driving labour costs higher for specialised roles.