economy
With uncertainty surrounding the H-1B visa fee, some U.S. businesses unsure how to move forward
Dallas — Kishore Khandavalli began his career in the U.S. on an H-1B skilled foreign worker visa.
TL;DR
- Kishore Khandavalli, a U.S. software company owner, began his career on an H-1B visa and now employs many H-1B visa holders.
- He states there is a skills gap in the U.S. market, necessitating the hiring of foreign workers.
- President Trump's administration attempted to increase the H-1B visa fee to $100,000, which was later invalidated by a federal judge.
- The judge ruled the fee was an unauthorized tax and lacked statutory power.
- Khandavalli estimates the fee hike would have cost his company $1 million annually and has not hired new foreign workers since its implementation.
- Students in India, like Ravi Bushan, who dream of working in the U.S., are now considering diversifying their options due to perceived changes in U.S. immigration policies.
- The Trump administration is appealing the decision to remove the fee, raising concerns about future barriers to the H-1B program and potential talent emigration.
- Businesses and foreign workers have relied on the H-1B program for decades, and affordability is seen as crucial for innovation.