📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Carol M. Highsmith
Technology
Tech firms urge Trump administration to scrap proposed H-1B visa fee increase
✍️ Hindustan Times
🗓 25 Sep 2026, 10:16 AM
👁 16
U.S. technology companies have jointly appealed to the Trump administration to withdraw a newly announced fee for H‑1B visa applications, arguing it will hurt talent recruitment.
A coalition of leading U.S. technology firms has formally requested the Trump administration to abandon a recently proposed surcharge on H‑1B visa applications. The fee, announced earlier this month, would add several hundred dollars to the cost of filing for the highly sought‑after work visa used by many Indian and other foreign engineers.
Industry representatives argue that the additional expense will make it harder for companies to attract and retain skilled workers, especially at a time when the sector faces a tight labor market. They warn that higher costs could push talent toward countries with more favorable immigration policies, potentially slowing innovation and growth in the U.S. tech ecosystem.
The administration has not yet responded to the petition, but officials have indicated that the fee is intended to offset processing costs and fund immigration enforcement. Tech leaders say the measure is disproportionate and could undermine the United States' competitive edge in the global technology arena.
If the fee remains in place, companies expect to see a slowdown in new hiring and possible delays in project timelines that rely on specialized expertise brought in through the H‑1B program.
Industry representatives argue that the additional expense will make it harder for companies to attract and retain skilled workers, especially at a time when the sector faces a tight labor market. They warn that higher costs could push talent toward countries with more favorable immigration policies, potentially slowing innovation and growth in the U.S. tech ecosystem.
The administration has not yet responded to the petition, but officials have indicated that the fee is intended to offset processing costs and fund immigration enforcement. Tech leaders say the measure is disproportionate and could undermine the United States' competitive edge in the global technology arena.
If the fee remains in place, companies expect to see a slowdown in new hiring and possible delays in project timelines that rely on specialized expertise brought in through the H‑1B program.