Trump’s $100K H-1B Fee Called A Startup ‘Talent Tariff’
Startup founders say Trump’s $100K H-1B fee is a ‘talent tariff’ that threatens innovation.
Matilda
Trump’s $100K H-1B Fee Called A Startup ‘Talent Tariff’
Startup Founders Say Trump’s $100K H-1B Fee Is A ‘Talent Tariff’ That Will Hurt Innovation When news broke that startup founders say Trump’s $100K H-1B fee is a ‘talent tariff’ that will hurt innovation , the reaction across the tech industry was swift. Many entrepreneurs argue the drastic visa cost increase could cripple their ability to recruit global talent, tilting the playing field in favor of Big Tech. Image Credits:Westend61 / Getty Images Amr Awadallah, founder of AI startup Vectara, summed it up bluntly: “I can’t afford to pay $100,000.” His company currently employs one H-1B worker, and while the new rule applies only to fresh applications, he believes the steep price will freeze out smaller startups. What The $100K H-1B Fee Means For Startups The H-1B visa was designed to help U.S. companies bring in highly skilled workers, especially in tech and engineering. For years, the application cost ranged from $2,000–$5,000. But under the new policy announced by President Trump, that fee …
