Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and 16 Other Tech Giants That May Be Most Affected by $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee

The global technology industry has always relied on talent from across the world.

For decades, the United States has served as a hub for skilled professionals, particularly through the H-1B visa program.

However, a recent policy proposal has sparked major concerns across Silicon Valley and beyond: a steep increase in H-1B visa fees, potentially reaching as high as $100,000 per application.

H-1B VIsa Fee

Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Tech Giants Face Impact 

If implemented, this measure would have far-reaching consequences for multinational tech firms like Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and at least 16 other technology leaders.

Companies depending heavily on foreign engineers, data scientists, and IT experts may face new cost burdens, while foreign workers could see fewer job opportunities.

Why the Proposed $100,000 Fee Matters

The current H-1B visa program allows U.S. companies to employ skilled foreign workers in specialized fields such as engineering, IT, and research. Presently, fees for H-1B visa applications range from a few thousand dollars depending on company size and filing conditions.

Raising this fee to $100,000 per application would represent an exponential jump, turning visa sponsorships into a costly gamble.

For tech companies employing thousands of H-1B workers, this could mean billions of dollars in new expenses each year.

Beyond cost, it may also curb the ability of firms to attract and retain the brightest minds from abroad, particularly in high-demand fields like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and cloud computing.

Companies Most at Risk

A handful of companies are consistently among the top sponsors of H-1B workers in the U.S. Labor Department’s annual database.

Respected brands such as Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Meta, IBM, Intel, and Qualcomm make up the majority.

These firms rely on international talent to maintain global competitiveness.

• Apple often recruits software engineers and hardware specialists from India and other countries.

• Microsoft employs thousands of foreign workers in software development and cloud platforms.

• Google (Alphabet) depends on AI experts and data scientists, many of whom come through H-1B sponsorship.

• Amazon relies heavily on tech workers for AWS, logistics technology, and its e-commerce infrastructure.

• Meta Platforms (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) continues to attract global AI and AR/VR researchers.

• Intel, NVIDIA, and Qualcomm have historically needed top semiconductor engineers from abroad.

• Accenture, Infosys, and TCS (though consultancy-heavy) are also major beneficiaries of the H-1B system.

The disruption could even affect smaller innovation-driven firms that survive on highly specialized foreign hires, often because such talent is not easily found in the domestic labor pool.

Impact on Indian IT Professionals

Perhaps no group is more directly impacted by this policy than Indian IT professionals. Year after year, Indians dominate the H-1B visa lottery, securing nearly 75% of all visas issued.

A $100,000 application fee could become a serious deterrent for U.S. employers hiring from India, opening doors for other countries like Canada, the UK, or Singapore to attract the same skilled pool.

For mid-level professionals, companies may prefer to transfer roles offshore rather than pay enormous sponsorship bills.

This shift could reduce the historic U.S. dominance in housing the world’s top tech workforce and accelerate talent migration to alternate markets.

Broader Implications for the U.S. Tech Economy

If the fee hike is approved, several long-term consequences may follow:

• Higher labor costs: Companies will be forced to choose between paying higher visa fees or raising investments in domestic training programs.

• Reduced competitiveness: As hiring global talent becomes expensive, innovation may slow compared to countries with more open immigration policies.

• Expansion outside the U.S.: Multinational firms may relocate jobs to offices in India, Canada, or Europe.

• Start-up challenges: Smaller tech start-ups without massive budgets will struggle to afford such visa costs, potentially stifling innovation.

• Brain drain reversal: The U.S., traditionally the preferred destination for tech graduates worldwide, may start losing talent to nations offering smoother immigration opportunities.

Potential Silver Linings

While technology giants strongly oppose the fee hike, some policymakers argue that such a shift could force companies to invest more in the domestic U.S. workforce, training local students in STEM fields. In the long run, this may boost American employment.

However, critics note that training domestic talent is a long-term project, whereas the demand for experts in artificial intelligence, cloud systems, and cybersecurity is immediate.

Restricting foreign hiring potential without adequate readiness at home may instead create skill gaps.

Voices from the Industry

Recent statements from tech associations and executives emphasize that the proposed H-1B fee increase could undermine U.S. leadership in global innovation.

Industry advocates argue that U.S. universities continue producing excellent graduates, but the scale of demand in areas like machine learning requires international supplementation.

Indian IT lobby groups have also raised alarms, suggesting the move could simultaneously hurt U.S. companies and limit opportunities for skilled foreign workers.

Diplomatically, such a policy could become a flashpoint in U.S.-India relations, considering the country’s large IT workforce supplying Silicon Valley talent.

What Lies Ahead

The proposal still requires legislative advancement and is not yet finalized. However, if the $100,000 H-1B visa fee materializes, it could reshape global hiring strategies of giants such as Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Meta, and several innovators in the semiconductor sector.

Policymakers face a difficult balance between protecting domestic jobs and ensuring the United States continues to lead the world in technology.

Unless modified, the ruling could unintentionally send much of the next generation of technological research and innovation to friendlier shores.

Conclusion

Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and at least 16 other major technology companies face a potential hiring dilemma with the proposed $100,000 H-1B visa fee. For Indian IT professionals, the change could close off significant opportunities in the U.S. market.

For Silicon Valley and the wider U.S. tech industry, it risks stalling innovation, weakening global competitiveness, and shifting jobs overseas.