TECHNOLOGY fears suffocating with Trump barrier to work visa

As it raises for $ 100,000 the cost of each H-1B visa has spread fear between companies and can redefine the future of technology in the United States

The last days have been tension in Silicon Valley and in much of the United States technology sector. Executives and analysts are still trying to scale the effects of President Donald Trump’s latest measure on H-1B visa program-a mechanism that has been a fundamental part of the highly qualified workforce of American industry for decades.

On Friday, Trump announced that employers wishing to hire foreign professionals through H-1B will have to pay a new rate of US $ 100,000 above. The measure fell like a bomb in the startup ecosystem and technology companies, fear that American innovation will lose competitiveness to other countries more open to talent attraction.

“We need the American Little Tech win – not tolls of $ 100,000,” said Garry Tan, CEO of Y Combinator, one of the most influential accelerators in the world, in social networking post.

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The risk of a “disaster”

Experts say that while some large companies can absorb costs, startups and emerging companies risk being the most affected, unable to compete for international talents in the face of financial barriers.

“In short, it would be a disaster for America, for American companies, for American competitiveness, for American innovation,” said Exequiel Hernandez, professor at Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, in an interview with CNBC.

The concern is not for nothing. The H-1B program has an annual limit of 65 thousand visasbesides others 20 thousand for foreign professionals with advanced diplomas. Giants like Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Apple and Google are among the ones that depend most of the visa, and weight names like Satya Nadella (Microsoft), Sundar pichai (Google) and Elon Musk (Tesla) They initially arrived in the United States with a H-1B.

Divided Reactions

If on one side startups and experts sound the alarm, on the other there are voices from the technology industry that see benefits in change. Reed Hastingsco -founder of Netflix, called the $ 100,000 rate of a “great solution”, arguing that it would make the process more predictable and only focused on “very high value” jobs.

In the same line, Sam AltmanOpenAi CEO, he stated in an interview with CNBC that simplifying the process and linking financial incentives could make the system more efficient. “We need to gather the smartest people in the country, and simplify this process and also define financial incentives seems good for me,” he said.

Clarifications and new proposals

The race for answers was immediate, as the measure should come into force at 12:01 am on Sunday (east US time). However, on Saturday, the White House tried to soften the fears, clarifying that the rate will not be charged annually and will apply Only for new visasnot to the renewals of workers who are already in the country under the program.

Still, new changes are on the way. The government presented a proposal that changes the selection process of candidates to H-1B. Today, when the number of orders exceeds the limit, the choice is made through a random lottery. The suggested rule provides for a system weighted by salary levelsfavoring who receives higher wages.

The proposal will be published in the Federal Register and will go through a public consultation period before any final decision.

Trump’s offensive over H-1B exposes a tension that has been following the American technology for years: how to balance the need to attract global brains with political pressure by migratory restriction measures.

If, on the one hand, large corporations can adapt and even support some changes, startups and smaller companies fear losing their main competitive advantage: quick access to highly specialized talents, often unavailable in the domestic market.

Meanwhile, other countries watch alert – and ready to receive professionals the US may be away. The risk, experts say, is that the “brain of the future” chooses to innovate elsewhere.

“This hurts startups”

So far, requesting an H-1B visa has cost companies something between US$ 2.000 e US$ 5.000depending on the size of the employer, according to the Immigration Law Group. For startups with limited box, the jump to US$ 100.000 It represents an almost insurmountable obstacle.

“You will not find many startups willing to pay $ 100,000 per H-1B, in addition to the salary of this H-1B,” he said Adam KovacevichYes Chamber of ProgressCommercial Association of Progressive Bias Technology.

Even the giants of the sector do not come out unharmed. Although they can absorb part of the costs, they may have to review their strategies. “A large company like Microsoft or Google, even if it is not ideal for them, has alternative solutions,” he analyzed Exequiel Hernandezfrom Wharton. “They can outsource jobs or they can make acquisitions.”

However, for early -stage companies, the measure is devastating. Garry TanCEO of Y Combinator, was straight in a post at LinkedIn: “It hurts startups” and represents a “huge gift” for technological centers outside the United States. He added: “In the middle of an AI arms race, we are telling builders to build elsewhere. We need small American technology to win – not tolls of $ 100,000.”

International competition gains space

Change occurs at a critical moment: the global race for artificial intelligence. Both giants and American startups compete for the same highly specialized professionals who are also in the sights of Europe, Asia and Canada.

“What this does is give our competitors, other countries, places like Asia, Canada, Europe, the opportunity to attract these employees to create new innovations,” he explained Steven Hubbarddata scientist from the American Council of Immigration.

China emerges as the most aggressive opponent. For years, the country seeks to rival the US in technology, and recently expanded the dispute in front of AI. Earlier this year, the Chinese company DeepSeek It moved the markets by announcing an advanced chatbot built by a fraction of the cost of western models. The feat has raised doubts about the billions that US companies have been investing to maintain their leadership in the sector.

Experts warn that restricting access to foreign talents can deliver victory to China-and also discourage international students to graduate in the US, as postgraduate career prospects would be foggy.

“These students will look at this environment and stay at home,” he said Greg MorrisettVice Rector of Cornell Tech. “This is giving an advantage to both China and India in terms of feeding its startup ecosystems.”

“Limiting talents is illogical”

For many, the measure compromises the largest historical advantage of the United States: its ability to attract brains from around the world. Bradley TuskCEO of Tusk Venture Partners, was categorical: “terrible.” This is how it defines the changes.

“The competitive advantage of the United States has always been the ability to attract the best talents in the world,” said Tusk. “Limiting our ability to recruit and compete is illogical.”

Among startups fighting for survival and rival countries ready to enjoy any breach, the future of American innovation seems to be facing a watershed. What is at stake is not just the cost of a visa, but the place of the United States in the next technological age.

With information from CNBC*