Trump's Proposed $100,000 H-1B Fee Sparks Controversy
President Donald Trump's proposed increase in H-1B visa application fees to $100,000 has sparked controversy. Immigration lawyers Jonathan Grode and Matthew Hirsch have spoken out against the move, with Grode warning of chaos and talent loss, and Hirsch predicting legal challenges due to the lack of formal rulemaking.
The H-1B visa program allows U.S. companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations. In 2024, over 10,000 workers in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey received these visas. Nationally, over 580,000 workers held H-1B visas in fiscal year 2019.
Veenu Aishwarya, a biotechnology entrepreneur, has firsthand experience with the program's challenges. After building two small companies based on gene silencing technology at the University of Pennsylvania, Aishwarya attempted to hire a Ukrainian scientist with an H-1B visa but was unsuccessful due to the visa lottery system. Aishwarya believes the proposed price hike would further hinder small companies' ability to hire foreign talent.
The potential impact of the price increase is significant, with Grode's concerns about driving talent away from the U.S. and Aishwarya's fears of stifling small businesses' growth. Hirsch's prediction of lawsuits suggests a contentious path ahead for the proposed changes.
