Overview

• Effective Sept. 21, employers must pay a $100,000 charge for new H-1B petitions, with the White House saying the move targets program abuse and does not apply to renewals.
• Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang warned the steep cost could deter global talent, tilt hiring toward deep-pocketed firms, and push investment outside the United States.
• Rep. Ro Khanna criticized a blanket fee as harmful to startups and pointed to the administration’s proposal to move from a lottery to wage- and skill-based selection for visas.
• New polling from Data for Progress finds 50% of likely voters disapprove of the $100,000 fee even as a majority supports maintaining or increasing highly skilled immigration.
• Indian students and employers are eyeing alternatives, with Germany courting talent, the U.K. reportedly weighing lower fees, Canada signaling new pathways, and China launching a K visa, while fact-checkers note most U.S. medical residents use J-1 visas rather than H-1B.