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Trump to impose $100k fee for H-1B worker visas, White House says

reuters.com

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Re: Trump to impose $100k fee for H-1B worker visas, White House says

#251

Post by mbesto »

roughly wrote: post #85

I think there’s plenty of interesting debates to be had about immigration policy and its effects on the labor market, but one thing worth noting here is that the primary problem that damn near every other country on earth has isn’t immigration, it’s brain drain. A core strategic strength of the US over the last century has been that everyone with any talent wants to come here to work, and by and large we’ve let them…

> You can argue how well that’s worked out for us

And its an easy argument:

The Manhattan Project engaged thousands of scientists, but over 16 notable principal scientists (with major published credits) were foreign-born and either retained their citizenship or became naturalized U.S. citizens only after escaping persecution or war in Europe.

As of 2025, about 10-12 CEOs of the top 50 Fortune 500 (F50) companies were born outside the United States, representing roughly 20-25% of F50 CEOs. This number has grown over the past two decades, reflecting increasing diversity among leadership at America's largest corporations.

Nearly half of all Fortune 500 companies in 2025—specifically 44%—were founded by immigrants or the children of immigrants, meaning the original founders were not born in the United States or were the first generation after immigration.

These are just three major examples.

Re: Trump to impose $100k fee for H-1B worker visas, White House says

#252

Post by thatfrenchguy »

jpadkins wrote: post #123
roughly wrote: post #85

I think there’s plenty of interesting debates to be had about immigration policy and its effects on the labor market, but one thing worth noting here is that the primary problem that damn near every other country on earth has isn’t immigration, it’s brain drain. A core strategic strength of the US over the last century has been that everyone with any talent wants to come here to work, and by and large we’ve let them…

The top end of H1B has been great for America. In the last few decades, there has been growth of abuse of the program to get mid level talent at below market rates which really hurts the middle class in America. People need to understand that most reformists don't want to get rid of the truly exceptional immigration to the US. We need to limit the volume, especially the immigrants that are directly competing with a h…

> mid level talent at below market rates which really hurts the middle class in America

What is "mid level talent" though? you're not getting that data from H1B wage filings, they're factually under-reporting compensation.

Re: Trump to impose $100k fee for H-1B worker visas, White House says

#253

Post by wnc3141 »

H1B's are a invaluable part of our communities and America's immense capital and soft power. However there is also a ~7% unemployment rate of new CS/CE grads. (Not including underemployment). This is after tech firms begging schools to reallocate vast amounts of public money into teeing up young tech employees. With the vast availability of a global workforce, there is little incentive to train junior workers.

Of course much of this could be solved by narrowing the gap between the lowest earnings and highest earnings workers so that the tech career path wasn't so high of stakes. Anybody working should have the opportunity to launch into a dignified adult life. There must be a conversation ultimately about where the vast profits of tech firms should sit within our economy.

Re: Trump to impose $100k fee for H-1B worker visas, White House says

#254

Post by theahura »

I've always felt that h1b grants should use second price auctions paid for by the company in question, instead of through lottery. This has all of the benefits of high skill immigration with virtually none of the downsides of hurting the middle class or depressing wages

Re: Trump to impose $100k fee for H-1B worker visas, White House says

#256

Post by vovavili »

roughly wrote: post #85

I think there’s plenty of interesting debates to be had about immigration policy and its effects on the labor market, but one thing worth noting here is that the primary problem that damn near every other country on earth has isn’t immigration, it’s brain drain. A core strategic strength of the US over the last century has been that everyone with any talent wants to come here to work, and by and large we’ve let them…

Taking the well-being of abstract concepts like a country over the well-being of concrete individuals is a slippery road towards a particularly unappealing version of collectivism. Me emigrating from Eastern to Western Europe was among the best decisions I have made in my entire life, and I couldn't care less if the outcome of this is my country doing "worse". My country by itself doesn't feel nor think anything, but I certainly do. One of these thoughts is me not believing that I have a civic duty to be less well-off materially and mentally just so my taxes get re-routed to a country I accidentally happened to be born in. I vote with my feet.

Re: Trump to impose $100k fee for H-1B worker visas, White House says

#257

Post by nothercastle »

abfan1127 wrote: post #91
frogblast wrote: post #80

IMO the problem is that H1B employees are stuck at the employer for the duration of their green card process, and so end up both paid lower and unable to escape abuse. I think a very high application fee is actually part of a good solution, but is useless by itself. A flawed proposal: * Dispense with the 'need to search for a qualified American' which just complicates the process without achieving the stated goal, an…

who in their right mind would shell out 100k + relocation and not require some level of commitment?

If the talent is that good and you are paying above market you would. Not much different than a signing bonus

Re: Trump to impose $100k fee for H-1B worker visas, White House says

#259

Post by giveita »

nine_k wrote: post #74
jatins wrote: post #63

While the stated intention is to prevent abuse by consultancies, I think this effectively kills the H1B program. Who will be able to afford this? Not startups. 100k is like 75% of base comp in most bay area startups Among BigTech, maybe like ~20 companies will be willing to pay this per employee.

So startups often bring in H1B employees? What prevents them from hiring the same great people remotely?

If you hire someone in say Australia you would be subject to its fair work act, and its courts. You'd need to sus out the tax situation too.

What if they are a contractor? Well usually the law treats these things like ducks and asks if they quack. If it quacks like employment it is subject to that law.

Re: Trump to impose $100k fee for H-1B worker visas, White House says

#260

Post by maerF0x0 »

There's a ton of abuse, feigned work and loopholes, and rules that undermine the law and also make foreign workers a 2nd class.

Amongst other elements that should be fixed:

* Taxation without representation (i'm suggesting adding the latter, not removing the former)

* The H1B worker must be paid at or above the higher of the median rate at the company for the role or at the employee's request by an independent valuation for the role, this ensures workers are not being paid less

* The fee should be prorated, monthly, over the 6 year span of the H1B, allowing the company to spread it over time and manage cashflow

* The H1B worker should only be contractually required to stay for the average tenure of the role in the industry (which afaik is 18mo right now)

* The H1B worker should be able to easily port their H1B over to another employer. The new employer must pay the fee, prorated, on the H1B, the prior employer will be reimbursed prorated unused fees

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