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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

#861

Post by elktown »

Animats wrote: post #725

The $100,000 fee isn't the real route to a visa. See the proclamation text: [1] (c) The restriction imposed pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall not apply to any individual alien, all aliens working for a company, or all aliens working in an industry, if the Secretary of Homeland Security determines, in the Secretary’s discretion, that the hiring of such aliens to be employed as H-1B specialty oc…

This thread is a poignant example of why I think tech folks might be one of the most gullible crowds out there - despite being perceived as smart. It's like a perfect storm of attributes and incentives. So here we are, completely preoccupied with picking apart details and effects of visa programs for a blatantly obvious kiss-the-ring initiative that couldn't care less about that.

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

#862

Post by mrtksn »

kristopolous wrote: post #797
guyzero wrote: post #248

Everyone in these threads always points out all sorts of issues with the H1B system, which are mostly true, but it's not like there's a suggestion for a replacement here. This is a de facto shutdown of the program, not a reform. I'd be happy to see a reformed skilled immigration program for the US, but this isn't it. The US makes up about 4.5% of the global population and it seems silly to think that the FAANG compan…

In this supposed competition with China, Trump is deeply dedicated to giving China every advantage possible. From defunding science, fining the biggest universities, defunding green energy, making hiring ambitious foreign workers economically unfeasible, replacing technocratic administrators with incompetent lackies with quite literally zero experience, imposing inordinate tariffs ... It's just win after win for the…

Yes, but all these things will have bad long-term effects. The short-term effect would be payment into the federal budget and increase in local employment.

Even with tariffs, the initial effect was to increase purchases before the tariffs hit. Later the companies started eating from their margins instead of increasing prices right away. So it all resulted in increased economic activity and then increased tax payments into the federal government. However, because this is tax on consumption, it will eventually reduce business profits and personal wealth of the consumers. Meanwhile, Trump can claim that the economy is booming and he is collecting huge tax revenues without any negative effects.

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

#863

Post by brainless »

This may boost remote jobs.

I have worked for many US based startups, all remotely. Timezone difference (I am in India) is a big issue unless the company is very well structured to work asynchronously.

Companies hiring top talent may still hire with a $100K additional charge but even at $250K - 400K salaries, this is a lot of additional cost.

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

#864

Post by oytis »

aurareturn wrote: post #519
aussieguy1234 wrote: post #444

Well I guess this is great for Australia, maybe we'll have our own rival silicon valley soon.

The reason silicon valley works is because it has a giant market that can support products and services before they can go global. Same reason why China has its own tech hubs.

SV companies are mostly selling globally from day 1

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

#865

Post by throwawaydbb »

HardCodedBias wrote: post #750

Note that the fee is triggered by entry. It sounds like F1 and TN visa holders will be able to acquire H1B visas without triggering the fee (but no international travel afterwards or the fee would be triggered). I suspect that the o1 and l1 visas will get more use if this actually gets enforced. I also suspect that the large tech companies don't overly mind since they all have very active offshoring programs.

Except that I (and I believe it will apply to many folks similar to myself) working for US company branches located in the EU for a decade, on the staff/EM positions, with education to qualify also for O1 - will not put my life and my family’s life to be the subject of sudden immigration changes.

What’s stopping them from doing the same for L1/O1 folks and locking them in with days’ notice?

Few of my US colleagues that I know are now abroad, and I cannot fathom how they took the news.

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

#867

Post by johanyc »

daft_pink wrote: post #666
cuttothechase wrote: post #78

As a side effect, this could reduce the pipeline of foreign students coming in on F1 with plans to transition to a work visa over time. F1 -> OPT -> H1 bridge is way more expensive now. Universities are bound to lose a ton of money due to this. Those outside of the top 50 will likely get hammered.

I'm a little bit confused by the text of the proclamation. It says people outside the country have to pay a $100k fee. Isn't an F1 student on OPT inside the country and not subject to the fee? Or are they required to leave the country to apply and are subject to it. The proclamation gives me the impression that foreign students are exempt from the fee.

They are not directly affected when applying for h1b but think about it what this means to both employers and students. It's a signal that immigration policy can change on a whim. For employers, hiring foreigners has always been cumbersome and now it's even worse due to the uncertainty. For students who starts working on h1b, you are in "immigration jail" in the US for years

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

#868

Post by johanyc »

crznthndr wrote: post #148
cuttothechase wrote: post #78

As a side effect, this could reduce the pipeline of foreign students coming in on F1 with plans to transition to a work visa over time. F1 -> OPT -> H1 bridge is way more expensive now. Universities are bound to lose a ton of money due to this. Those outside of the top 50 will likely get hammered.

This is a bit like robbing Peter to pay Paul. Yes, it brings in more income for the government at the expense of universities. It’s a great way to remove h1b fraud and abuse but you do burn down a bit of your garage in the process of getting rid of the rat.

Just like tariffs and the tax cuts

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

#869

Post by delusional »

kelvinjps wrote: post #466
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…

Your proposal is the same as shutting down the program, no company will take this? Like what's the benefit?

Isn't getting specialized workers (who you supposedly can't hire from the national talent pool) incentive enough? My understanding of the H1B system is that it was supposed to be a "last resort, exit hatch" sort of a programme.
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