Sweeping changes to the H-1B visa programme under Donald Trump have significantly reshaped how US employers hire foreign workers, with a steep $100,000 fee and new wage-based rules.
The most controversial change, a $100,000 fee on certain new H-1B visas introduced in September, has made the programme unaffordable for many small-scale employers.
Nonprofits, rural hospitals, and small businesses have been among the hardest hit by the changes, with some organisations turning away students due to a lack of staff.
Experts like immigration lawyer Vic Goel note that the impact of these reforms has been 'not uniform,' with disparities emerging across sectors and employer types.
Large technology companies have been relatively insulated from the changes, with many recruiting international students already in the US, who are exempt from the $100,000 fee.
Data cited in the report shows a 15% drop in applications among certain employers and only a limited number of payments made toward the new fee, suggesting a 'chilling effect' on demand.
