Overview

• The White House confirmed the $100,000 charge applies once to new H‑1B petitions and does not cover renewals or current holders.
• DHS published a proposal to prioritize higher‑paid and higher‑skilled roles in H‑1B selection, opening a public comment period and signaling stricter enforcement of program abuses.
• Companies rushed to adjust operations, with reports of travel recalls, hiring pauses, offshore shifts, and discussions of passing costs through to clients, while major business groups offered cautious statements.
• JPMorgan economists estimated the policy could trim U.S. work authorizations by up to about 5,500 per month, with outsized effects on startups and entry‑level candidates; questions remain over whether the new fee is refundable if a petition is denied.
• Competing hubs in Europe, Canada, Hong Kong, and China moved to attract talent unsettled by the U.S. changes, highlighting a fast‑intensifying global race for skilled workers.