Taipei: A Taiwanese data analyst, referred to as Ko, was vacationing in Taiwan when he faced an unexpected crisis related to his H-1B visa status. On September 19, the U.S. government announced a significant increase in the H-1B visa fee, which would rise to $100,000 from the previous range of $2,000 to $5,000 per petition. This sudden policy change sent shockwaves through the community of foreign workers in the U.S., including many Taiwanese nationals.
According to Focus Taiwan, the policy announcement prompted Ko to take immediate action. He was dining with friends in Taipei when he received the news, initiating a frantic rush to return to the U.S. before the deadline. Advised by his employer to be back by midnight on September 20, Ko hurriedly traveled to Taichung to collect his belongings and then proceeded to Taoyuan International Airport, catching a flight to San Francisco. While in transit, he learned that the fee hike would not affect current visa holders like himself, allowing him a moment of relief upon arrival.
The policy initially drew attention towards its impact on Indian and Chinese workers, who make up the largest portion of H-1B visa holders. In fiscal year 2024, Indian nationals accounted for 71% of the approved petitions, while Chinese nationals made up 11.7%. In contrast, Taiwanese nationals had 3,099 approvals, 1,854 of which were for new employment, highlighting the lesser but still significant impact on Taiwanese workers.
Richard, another Taiwanese data engineer based in Boston, faced a similar ordeal. He returned to the U.S. on the earliest available flight after being alerted by his company. The urgency stemmed from the at-will employment nature of U.S. contracts, which could lead to job loss if the visa issues were not promptly resolved.
The Trump administration later clarified that the $100,000 fee would apply only to new petitions, not to renewals or existing visa holders. This clarification offered some relief to individuals like Ko and Richard but raised concerns for Taiwanese students in the U.S. who aim to work there post-graduation. For them, the H-1B visa is a critical step towards permanent residency, and the new fee could deter companies from sponsoring these visas.
Eugene Chen, a managing attorney in the U.S., indicated that tech companies might challenge the regulation, suggesting that the policy might not be final. Immigration attorney Cecilia Hu posited that the fee might only apply to workers being hired from overseas, potentially improving the odds for U.S.-based international students in the visa lottery if foreign applications decline.
Nonetheless, there are apprehensions about how HR departments will perceive the risks associated with hiring H-1B workers, which could create additional hurdles for international students. Luo Tz-yuan, a master’s student in information engineering at Northeastern University Oakland, expressed concern over the future prospects of staying in the U.S., a sentiment echoed by Hsieh, a Taiwanese engineer in the Bay Area.
Amid this uncertainty, Ko is contemplating opportunities in countries like Canada, Singapore, or Japan, reflecting a broader pessimism about the immigration climate in the U.S. He foresees companies opting to outsource jobs rather than fostering an immigration-friendly environment.
