Key points
- US raises H-1B fee to $100,000
- Tech firms hit hardest by fee increase
- China launches new K Visa for skilled workers
ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump’s decision to increase H-1B visa application fees could have far-reaching effects on the global talent pool, with several countries positioning themselves to capitalise on the changes.
The US has raised the application fee for companies hiring foreign workers on H-1B visas to a staggering $100,000 per application, starting from September 21.
The move, aimed at prioritising US workers, could have unintended consequences for the US economy, particularly in the tech sector, which relies heavily on skilled foreign labour, according to an Al Jazeera report.
Roughly two-thirds of existing H-1B jobs are in tech-related roles.
Most H-1B visa holders
According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Apple were among the companies that employed the most H-1B visa holders last year.
H-1B visas, introduced in 1990, are vital for filling specialised positions, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM ) fields.
Last year, Indian nationals were the largest recipients of H-1B visas, comprising 71 per cent of approved applicants.
In contrast, China followed with 11.7 per cent. As the cost of acquiring these visas rises, many foreign skilled workers could look to other countries for employment opportunities.
Which countries can benefit?
In response, countries like the UK, Canada, China and South Korea are looking to attract this influx of talent.
The UK government is reportedly considering eliminating visa fees for top professionals, while China has announced the launch of the K Visa, aimed at attracting global talent in STEM fields.
South Korea has also expressed interest in leveraging the changes to bring in skilled workers, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence (AI).
Canada, which already offers favourable immigration policies for skilled workers, has lowered its Comprehensive Ranking System score for permanent residency applications and is expected to reintroduce a programme that would allow former H-1B visa holders to migrate under more favourable terms.
For countries like India, this could result in a brain drain from the US as foreign professionals explore more welcoming environments for their expertise.
