Why Silicon Valley Is Quiet as $100K H-1B Visa Fee Reshapes US Tech Hiring

Silicon Valley’s Silence Amidst a $100K H-1B Fee Shake-Up

In the world’s tech epicenter, a seismic shift is underway. The Trump administration’s new $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications has landed with force, and yet, the response from Silicon Valley’s titans has been strikingly muted. While smaller startups cry foul and scramble for survival, industry giants are opting for quiet recalibration rather than public protest—a silence that’s growing louder as the impact spreads.

Who Speaks Up—and Who Stays Quiet?

The fee hike, signed into law in September 2025, has left smaller tech firms reeling. For these startups, international talent isn’t a luxury—it’s a lifeline. Many founders, themselves immigrants, rely on programs like H-1B to build teams and fuel innovation. The sudden spike in costs has forced some to freeze hiring, pause expansion plans, and even consider relocating to countries with more welcoming immigration policies. According to American Bazaar Online, several founders have warned that the increase could directly threaten their ability to grow.

Yet, in stark contrast, major players—Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Meta—have mostly kept their cards close to their chests. Some, like Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, have openly welcomed the change, but most have chosen a path of quiet adaptation. Tesla’s Elon Musk, long a vocal supporter of the H-1B program, has notably refrained from comment since the fee was announced, prompting speculation about political calculations and potential federal partnerships. As Atal Agarwal, founder of OpenSphere, noted, “The real problem here is that companies do not want to go against [Trump] in isolation. Everyone was expecting corporates to be more active and issue more statements.”

Big Tech’s Calculated Response

Why the silence? For large corporations, the $100,000 fee—while significant—is not insurmountable. These firms routinely pay six-figure salaries and possess deep pockets, allowing them to absorb the extra cost without dramatically altering their hiring strategies. The numbers tell the story: Reuters reports that Amazon Web Services led with over 10,000 H-1B approvals in 2025, followed by Microsoft and Meta, both posting solid year-over-year gains. Apple and JP Morgan Chase also saw sharp increases, underscoring the tech sector’s heavy reliance on skilled foreign workers.

However, this reliance comes with risks. Some industry watchers believe that remaining quiet is a strategic move. By avoiding public confrontation, these companies may be seeking to preserve regulatory goodwill, especially at a time when federal contracts and AI research grants are crucial to their bottom lines. The fear of political blowback or being blacklisted looms large, and for firms deeply entwined with Washington, discretion could be the better part of valor.

The Fee’s Real Impact: Winners, Losers, and Loopholes

While the fee ostensibly targets outsourcing firms and seeks to protect American jobs, critics argue that it disproportionately hurts smaller businesses and overseas applicants. Amanda Goodall, a US influencer known for her labor market insights, took to social media to highlight what she sees as glaring loopholes in the policy. She pointed out that large consulting firms and computer staffing agencies often avoid the fee by hiring foreign graduates already in the US under F-1 student visas or OPT programs. Goodall stressed, “Outsourcing firms with foreign grads already inside the US skip the fee.”

Data from Hindustan Times backs up her claims: 71% of H-1B holders transition from F-1 student visas, meaning the new fee affects a narrow slice of applicants—primarily those abroad seeking new visas or those inside the US opting for consular processing. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has already received enough petitions to fill both the regular cap (65,000) and the master’s cap (20,000) for fiscal year 2026, rendering the fee a moot point for many hopefuls.

Meanwhile, several major companies have taken decisive action. According to Moneycontrol and Inshorts, firms like Cognizant, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Walmart, and Intuitive Surgical have paused or stopped sponsoring H-1B visas for new applicants. Others, like Nvidia, have pledged to continue supporting global talent. Some job postings now explicitly state that only candidates who do not require sponsorship will be considered.

Policy Uncertainty and the Road Ahead

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon is one of the few executives to comment publicly, describing the $100,000 fee as “something that came out of the blue.” He emphasized that visas are essential for a global firm, allowing talent to move across markets and keep America competitive. Dimon’s remarks reflect a broader concern: Will the US remain an attractive destination for the world’s best and brightest? Or will restrictive policies stifle innovation and send talent elsewhere?

At the heart of the debate is a question: Is the silence of Silicon Valley’s leaders a tactical retreat or a signal of acquiescence? Some industry insiders believe that behind the scenes, the lobbying is intense. The US Chamber of Commerce has already filed a legal challenge to the fee, representing a coalition of companies unwilling to accept the new cost without a fight. Others speculate that big tech firms may ultimately absorb the blow, tightening hiring pipelines and restricting access to only the most critical or highly skilled roles.

For smaller startups, however, the consequences are immediate and tangible. Many founders—often immigrants themselves—face tough decisions about whether to scale back, seek alternative visa pathways, or move operations abroad. The fee risks creating a two-tiered system: one where deep-pocketed corporations continue hiring globally, while emerging innovators are shut out by costs they cannot bear.

Social Media Sparks Debate, But Congress Holds the Keys

The policy has ignited passionate debate across platforms like X (formerly Twitter), with users calling for broader reforms and pointing out the inconsistencies in how the fee is applied. Some argue that the fee should extend to all work visas to prevent companies from shifting to alternatives like the L-1 visa. Others question whether the real goal is to protect American jobs or simply to raise barriers for newcomers.

Ultimately, the future of the H-1B program—and the fate of the tech sector’s global talent pipeline—rests with Congress. Unless lawmakers authorize more visa slots or revise the fee structure, the current cap remains in place, and the new cost will continue to shape who gets hired and where innovation happens.

Assessment: The $100,000 H-1B fee has exposed a fault line in the US tech industry, magnifying disparities between cash-rich giants and resource-strapped startups. Silicon Valley’s silence appears to be a strategic calculation, prioritizing long-term federal relationships over short-term hiring pain. Yet, if smaller firms continue to bear the brunt, the US risks narrowing its talent pool and undermining the very innovation that has driven its global leadership.