Business groups urge Trump to reconsider $100,000 H-1B application fee
Business groups urge Trump to reconsider $100,000 H-1B application fee
A coalition of business organizations has urged US President Donald Trump to reconsider the recently announced $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications.
The group, which includes representatives from chipmakers, software companies, and retailers, warned that the new fee could harm the US economy by disrupting a vital talent pipeline of foreign skilled workers.
They also said it could leave critical jobs unfilled in various industries.
Industry leaders ask administration to collaborate on necessary reforms
The coalition of business organizations expressed their concerns in a letter sent to Trump on Friday.
They asked the administration to collaborate with industry leaders on necessary reforms to the H-1B visa program, without adding extra burdens on companies.
The signatories included members from the Business Software Alliance, semiconductor industry group SEMI, National Retail Federation, and Entertainment Software Association among others.
White House defends new policy amid backlash
Trump had announced the H-1B changes at the White House last month, touting the $100,000 fee as a way to curb abuses in the skilled worker program.
The move was also aimed at pushing US companies to hire more domestic talent for jobs.
A White House spokesperson defended this new policy saying it would help US companies access top talent while reducing fallout from "fraudulent practices by bad-faith actors."
Major companies reliant on skilled worker program
The new H-1B fees could have a major impact on a range of industries, including technology, healthcare, and finance.
Major companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Walmart have relied on the skilled worker program for years to fill their ranks.
However, these changes threaten to disrupt their talent pipelines in these sectors.
The groups also warned that cutting-edge sectors such as AI and biomedical engineering will need a high-skilled workforce to sustain growth in the US.
Willingness from industries to work with administration on changes
The letter from the business groups stressed that each of the industries represented is "ready to work with the administration" on changes to the H-1B program.
Copies of this letter were also sent to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
This shows a willingness from these industries to collaborate and find solutions for their concerns over Trump's new policy.