Silicon Valley opposes Trump administration’s $103K H-1B fee proposal.
TechNet, an industry association representing major US technology companies, has urged the Trump administration to withdraw a proposed $103,265 fee on certain new H-1B visa petitions, saying the measure could make it harder for US companies to recruit highly skilled workers, Wall Street Journal reported.
TechNet said the proposed fee could undermine US competitiveness by making it more difficult for American companies to access specialised talent from around the world. “This proposal undermines the US global competitiveness championed by the President, preventing American companies from accessing the world’s top talent — talent that is central to driving innovation, launching businesses, and fostering prosperity in American communities,” the group said in its filing. The group submitted comments to the Department of Homeland Security opposing the proposed fee. TechNet was joined in its comments by the Information Technology Industry Council and the Semiconductor Industry Association. The proposed fee comes as the administration is tightening the US high-skilled immigration system and encouraging employers to give greater priority to American workers. The proposal has drawn concern from technology companies that rely heavily on foreign-born workers, particularly for specialised positions in fields such as artificial intelligence, engineering and other STEM disciplines.
Its 2026 policy proposals specifically call for avoiding high H-1B fees that could discourage startups and small businesses from hiring foreign workers. Earlier reporting noted: Tech industry calls on Trump administration to withdraw new H-1B visa fee WASHINGTON—An industry group representing the country’s largest tech companies is urging the Trump administration to withdraw its proposal to charge companies $103,265 for most new H-1B visa applications, reigniting a fight between the White House and Silicon Valley over a popular program for highly skilled immigrants. DHS proposed the new $103,265 fee last month.
Because tech companies — which consistently oppose tightening access to immigration paths—have almost uniformly supported President Trump’s policies of minimal regulation and tax cuts, earlier reporting noted: The sector’s opposition, filed Thursday as a public comment on the Department of Homeland Security’s pending H-1B fee rule, is significant.
DHS said the proposal is intended to generate dedicated revenue to support immigration-related work carried out across several federal agencies, including US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), US Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Department of Labor, the Department of State and the Justice Department. TechNet’s opposition comes as the technology industry and the Trump administration remain divided over high-skilled immigration.
The industry group has previously called for expanding access to foreign talent while also supporting reforms aimed at preventing fraud and misuse of the H-1B programme. Earlier reporting noted: Hoping to force companies to hire American workers , the Trump administration has taken unprecedented steps to restrict legal immigration avenues, especially those that allow international students to remain in the U.S. for work and eventually become citizens.