Asian professionals, particularly from India, constitute the overwhelming majority of H-1B beneficiaries, making them the primary targets of this policy shift. The $100,000 fee—unprecedented globally and roughly 25-30 times higher than comparable visa costs in Canada or the UK—effectively creates a two-tiered system where only the largest corporations can afford international talent while startups and mid-sized companies are priced out.
tirsdag 23. september 2025
America’s $100,000 talent tax vs China’s free welcome mat
President Trump’s decision to impose a US$100,000 annual fee on new H-1B visa applicants represents more than immigration policy—it’s a strategic miscalculation that risks accelerating America’s decline in the global competition for talent while inadvertently strengthening China’s hand in the very contest the US seeks to win.
Asian professionals, particularly from India, constitute the overwhelming majority of H-1B beneficiaries, making them the primary targets of this policy shift. The $100,000 fee—unprecedented globally and roughly 25-30 times higher than comparable visa costs in Canada or the UK—effectively creates a two-tiered system where only the largest corporations can afford international talent while startups and mid-sized companies are priced out.
Asian professionals, particularly from India, constitute the overwhelming majority of H-1B beneficiaries, making them the primary targets of this policy shift. The $100,000 fee—unprecedented globally and roughly 25-30 times higher than comparable visa costs in Canada or the UK—effectively creates a two-tiered system where only the largest corporations can afford international talent while startups and mid-sized companies are priced out.
