Tech Leaders Respond to New H-1B Visa Fee

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing a $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications, a move that has elicited reactions from leading technology executives.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang emphasized the importance of immigration for innovation, stating, "We want all the brightest minds to come to the U.S. and remember immigration is the foundation of the American Dream."

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also commented on the policy change, noting, "We need to get the smartest people in the country, and streamlining that process and also sort of outlining financial incentives seems good to me."

The executive order, signed on September 19, 2025, requires a $100,000 annual fee for H-1B visa applications. The administration asserts that this measure aims to ensure the program is used to attract highly skilled workers without undercutting wages for U.S. employees.

The new fee applies to new applicants and those seeking to re-enter the U.S. on an H-1B visa. Existing visa holders within the country applying for extensions or changes of employer are not subject to this fee.

The H-1B program is widely utilized by the technology sector to employ highly skilled foreign workers. The introduction of this substantial fee has prompted discussions about its potential impact on the industry's ability to attract global talent.