Sworn in on Jan. 20, President Donald Trump has held office for about nine months, making a drastic transformation to the federal government. Between Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and student aid programs, these changes have greatly impacted U.S. citizens.
One of the recent significant changes would be the adjustment of H-1B fees.
Announced through the proclamation, “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers” on Sep. 19 and set into effect two days later, the declaration made it so that H-1B petition fees were replaced with a $100,000 fee, a big jump from the former $2,000-5,000 fee.
An H-1B visa is a U.S. non-immigrant visa that allows U.S employers to hire highly trained and educated professionals who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher. India is currently the highest beneficiary with an approved visa rate of 71%.
The surge of fees essentially makes it extremely difficult for companies to consider applying for a visa due to its unreasonable prices.
The Trump administration claims that the purpose of the changes is to protect American workers and that the visa program has always hurt domestic workers. The change would help discourage companies from paying the fee.
However, the new fee affects the U.S economy in numerous ways. While major companies can easily pay off the $100,000 price tag, small companies will be hit hard, limiting the talent that is crucial to innovations due to the loss of talent.
Economists from JPMorgan believe that the fee will significantly reduce H-1B workers, which will affect American workers, as it can increase offshoring and more the workload on domestic workers.
Additionally, the new fees will negatively affect specific industries. Hospitals and clinics, especially those in rural areas, will lead to healthcare worker shortages that rely on foreign doctors and nurses.
The tech industry, as well, relies heavily on H-1B workers. For big companies, it wouldn’t be hard to absorb the cost of the fees, but it can lead to higher costs in products and services.
Alyssa Salmon, a sophomore at Pembroke Pines Charter High School (PPCHS), expresses her opinion on the matter. “I think that the fees are genuinely insane, but it makes sense that Trump would do this, as it’s another way to keep immigrants out.”
There have been many more reactions to Trump’s new proclamation. A lawsuit in San Francisco was filed in federal court, challenging Trump and his administration. The lawsuit argues that Trump does not possess the power to override the H-1B visa program.
PPCHS freshman Tzadik Thomas hopes they win, saying, “The fees seem unfair, and [he] really hopes that the lawsuit is strong enough where they can win.”
The White House has responded, saying that it has acted with lawful actions and is doing its job by protecting American workers.
Focusing on the big picture, the new fee detrimentally affects the economy and many companies, but can potentially protect American workers. With much negative feedback and pushback, the fight for the visa program is far from over. The proclamation is, however, still here and isn’t leaving anytime soon, and only time will tell what this means for the U.S.
