With uncertainty surrounding the H-1B visa fee, some U.S. businesses unsure how to move forward
CBS News • • general
Key Points:
- Kishore Khandavalli, a Dallas-based software consulting company owner, employs many skilled foreign workers on H-1B visas due to a significant skills gap in the U.S. tech market, particularly in emerging technologies.
- The Trump administration's 2025 increase of the H-1B visa fee from about $215 to $100,000 was struck down by a federal judge, who ruled the fee was effectively an unauthorized tax.
- Khandavalli has paused hiring foreign workers under the new fee, citing potential annual losses of around $1 million, and expressed concern that further visa barriers could force outsourcing work overseas.
- Many prospective H-1B visa applicants, such as Indian doctoral student Ravi Bushan, are reconsidering U.S. career plans due to changing visa policies and immigration perceptions.
- The ruling and ongoing appeals highlight uncertainties in the H-1B program, which is critical for maintaining U.S. innovation and meeting labor market demands in tech industries.