Trump's H-1B Visa Fee Sparks Panic and Global Opportunity

Trump's H-1B Visa Fee Sparks Panic and Global Opportunity

Donald Trump's recent executive order imposing a $100,000 fee on certain H-1B visa petitions has sparked widespread panic among visa holders, particularly in the Indian community, which makes up over 70% of all H-1B visa recipients. The sudden announcement triggered confusion and urgency, with many scrambling to determine the impact on their applications and travel plans.

A notable incident involved an Indian-origin American woman whose boyfriend abruptly cut their Roman holiday short to rush back to the US, leaving her behind in Rome. He had to leave an Italian pasta-making class mid-session to catch a flight, only to later learn that the new rule didn't affect existing visa holders. This incident highlights the chaos and uncertainty caused by the policy change.

The move has shaken global business circles, with Europe, the UK, and Dubai seeing an opportunity to attract top skilled workers. Some experts believe this policy could slow innovation in the US, while others think it might benefit certain companies. Harry Stebbings, founder of VC firm 20VC, called Trump's policy a "gift" for Europe and suggested the UK should fast-track H-1B holders to make itself a "talent magnet".

Barney Hussey-Yeo, founder of UK-based AI startup Cleo, described the new fee as "an unprecedented opportunity" and claimed over 1,000 highly skilled professionals from elite US tech firms had reached out to him since the weekend. Paul Achleitner, former chair of Deutsche Bank's supervisory board, highlighted Europe's quality of life as a competitive factor in attracting skilled foreign workers.

The US State Department has clarified that existing visa holders are not impacted by the new fee, and those who already hold H-1B visas can leave and re-enter the country without paying the $100,000 fee. Despite this clarification, the policy change has raised concerns about the potential impact on the US tech industry and its ability to attract global talent.

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