The Trump administration has announced a decision that could significantly impact foreign nationals employed in the United States, particularly within major technology companies.
According to the new directive, companies employing individuals on H-1B work visas will now be required to pay an annual fee of USD 100,000 for each such employee. This decision effectively warns foreign professionals currently in the U.S. to either secure their positions or face returning to their home countries.
The move is expected to have a direct effect on leading companies such as Microsoft (MSFT.O), JPMorgan (JPM.N), and Amazon (AMZN.O), all of which heavily rely on skilled foreign talent.
The H-1B visa is a temporary, non-immigrant work permit that allows U.S. employers to hire foreign professionals in specialized fields such as information technology, engineering, and medicine. These positions generally require at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualifications.
International reports highlight that this decision could deal a severe blow to the U.S. technology sector, which relies heavily on skilled workers from countries such as India and China.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that if companies intend to train new workers, they should prioritize recent graduates from top American universities. He further emphasized that American workers must be trained and employed first, warning against the continued dependence on foreign labor for U.S. jobs.
