H1B Visa / 40,000 Americans lost their jobs... This is why the US increased the H-1B visa fee

H-1B Visa: The White House has clarified its position on recent concerns regarding the H-1B visa program. This statement comes after Donald Trump announced an increase in H-1B visa fees. The White House states that this move was taken due to many American companies laying off American technical workers and replacing them with foreign workers.

America First Policy

Donald Trump has long championed the "America First" slogan. He believes that American citizens have the first right to America's resources and jobs. According to a White House statement, the purpose of the H-1B visa fee increase is to increase the cost for companies to hire foreign professionals. This will encourage companies to prioritize American workers, leading to jobs going to American citizens.

Shocking White House Statistics

• In its statement, the White House shared statistics from some companies that underscore the rationale behind this policy:
• First company: This company received 5,189 H-1B visa approvals, but laid off 16,000 American employees.
• Second company: It received 1,698 H-1B visa approvals, but cut 2,400 jobs in Oregon.
• Third company: This company received 25,075 H-1B visa approvals, but reduced its American workforce by 27,000 starting in 2022.
• Fourth company: Despite receiving 1,137 H-1B visa approvals for fiscal year 2025, it cut 1,000 American jobs in February.
• The White House also alleged that some companies allegedly forced American IT workers to illegally train foreign workers.

No impact on applications before September 21st

The White House has clarified that the new fee hike will not affect H-1B petitions submitted before September 21st, 2025. Furthermore, existing visa holders outside the US will not have to pay additional fees to re-enter the country. "This rule will only apply to new visa applications, not renewals or existing visa holders," a White House official told PTI.