President Donald Trump's recent executive order imposing a $100,000 application fee on new H-1B visa petitions has sent shockwaves through the U.S. tech industry. The H-1B visa program has been instrumental in enabling companies to hire highly skilled foreign workers, particularly from India and China. This policy change, which does not affect current visa holders but applies to new applications submitted after September 21, 2025, has led to significant concerns among tech giants like Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Meta, all of which rely heavily on the H-1B program to fill critical roles. The immediate impact on India's IT sector has been profound, with companies losing nearly $10 billion in market value. Analysts anticipate a 4% to 13% drop in earnings per share for these firms. This development has prompted Indian companies to reassess their U.S. operations due to increased costs and operational uncertainties. Moreover, the policy may lead to reduced wage growth in India's tech sector, diminished U.S. remittance flows, and potential job disruptions, affecting over 5.6 million jobs supported by the IT sector. In response to the policy, some tech leaders have expressed support, viewing the fee as a means to attract top global talent and reduce misuse of the system. However, others, including Elon Musk and Satya Nadella, have criticized the move, highlighting the foundational role of H-1B visa holders in building American tech giants. The debate underscores the critical role of immigrant talent in shaping the U.S. tech industry. #H1BVisa #TechIndustry #ImmigrationPolicy #USTech #IndianTech #GlobalTalent #VisaFee #EconomicImpact #newsone #TechDebate @DonaldJTrump
