Walmart Pauses H-1B Offers Over $100,000 Visa Fee Rule

(UNITED STATES) Walmart has paused job offers to candidates who need H-1B visas after the Trump administration imposed a new $100,000 fee on initial H-1B filings, effective September 21, 2025. The move primarily affects the retailer’s corporate-level hiring in the United States 🇺🇸, not store or distribution center roles. The company, which employs roughly 1.6 million workers nationwide and about 2,390 H-1B visa holders in corporate posts, said it is being “thoughtful about our H-1B hiring approach” while stressing it remains committed to finding top talent.

The fee stems from a presidential proclamation signed on September 19, 2025, which the White House framed as a reform aimed at discouraging overuse of the H-1B program and boosting the hiring of U.S. workers. The rule has already triggered lawsuits from business groups and unions, which argue the sudden cost spike could push companies to reduce hiring or shift work abroad, and could worsen skill shortages in fields like technology, data science, and finance. Employers say the $100,000 fee dwarfs standard petition costs and could reshape hiring plans across the economy.

Under the policy, the fee applies to new H-1B petitions filed on or after September 21, 2025 where the beneficiary is outside the United States and lacks a valid H-1B visa. It also covers filings that ask for consular notification, port of entry notification, or pre-flight inspection. That means even if a worker is currently in the U.S., the employer may still face the fee if the petition requests that the person obtain the visa at a U.S. consulate. The payment is a one-time charge required before applying for the visa.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the Walmart pause reflects a broader corporate reassessment as employers weigh the cost and timing risks linked to the new rule. Companies with large campus recruiting pipelines or early-career programs that rely on global candidates may be the first to slow offers while they review budgets, internal policies, and legal exposure from ongoing litigation. Some firms could shift to alternative visa categories or increase use of remote roles outside the United States, while others may narrow hiring to candidates already holding valid H-1B status.

Policy details and scope

Walmart’s hiring pause centers on corporate-level roles, where H-1B visas are more common due to specialized skill needs. The company’s retail and distribution operations, which rely largely on other worker categories, are not the primary focus of this change.

The company has not announced layoffs or rescinded offers already accepted by candidates with valid H-1B status. Instead, the Walmart pause affects new offers to candidates who would trigger the $100,000 fee under the rule.

The administration’s proclamation states the fee is intended to discourage what it calls “overuse” of the H-1B route. Business groups counter that most H-1B positions require a bachelor’s degree or higher in a specialty occupation and fill real gaps. Unions that joined legal challenges argue the fee could have unintended effects, including pushing certain jobs offshore.

Legal filings broadly claim that the executive action oversteps existing statute and imposes a barrier without a clear legislative basis. Those cases could take months to resolve, creating uncertainty for fall and winter hiring cycles.

Workers outside the U.S. face the most immediate impact. Candidates waiting abroad for an offer now must contend with an extra $100,000 employer cost before the visa process can begin. Employers also need to plan for consular appointment backlogs and travel issues.

For candidates already in the country, the fee may still apply if the petition requests consular processing rather than an in‑country change or extension. Employers considering alternatives might revisit their timelines, including whether to delay start dates or prioritize candidates with existing work authorization.

For background and official program guidance, employers and workers can consult the USCIS H-1B program page, which outlines qualification standards for specialty occupations, employer obligations, and general petition steps.

Impact on applicants and employers

Walmart’s hiring approach matters because the company’s corporate tech and data teams often recruit globally. A pause at this scale signals how large employers may react when a single policy shifts the cost model for international hiring overnight.

Smaller firms with tighter budgets could go further, choosing to avoid new H-1B filings entirely until the courts address the rule. Recruiters say candidates are already asking whether offers can be issued under different work categories or whether employers will sponsor after litigation concludes.

Candidates also want clarity on timing. The proclamation took effect quickly—signed on September 19 and effective September 21, 2025—leaving little room for companies to adjust open requisitions. HR teams are reviewing pipelines by location and status to determine which candidates would incur the fee. Global students graduating from U.S. universities who expected to move to H-1B next year are asking if they should postpone plans or consider roles in Canada 🇨🇦, Europe, or Asia until the U.S. policy environment stabilizes.

VisaVerge.com reports that in-house counsel at major employers are modeling several scenarios:

1. Absorb the cost for critical roles.
2. Pause new filings that would require consular processing.
3. Shift headcount to teams in lower-cost markets abroad.

Some are exploring hybrid models where projects remain U.S.-led but include more offshore staff until policy risks ease. Others may prioritize transfers for employees who already hold valid H-1B visas, since the $100,000 fee targets new petitions and certain consular cases.

Key facts (confirmed by company statements and the proclamation)

• Walmart pause: Applies to candidates who require new H-1B visas, primarily in corporate roles.
• Effective date: September 21, 2025 for covered new H-1B petitions.
• Fee amount: $100,000, paid once, before visa application steps.
• Coverage: Beneficiaries outside the U.S. without a valid H-1B, and petitions asking for consular, port of entry, or pre-flight inspection notification.
• Workforce impact: Walmart employs about 2,390 H-1B workers in corporate roles out of roughly 1.6 million employees.

Employers with fall hiring cycles should speak with immigration counsel about how the proclamation intersects with current offers, start dates, and whether specific filings would trigger the $100,000 fee. Candidates can ask recruiters for written clarification on sponsorship status, filing timelines, and whether a role is paused or proceeding.

While some companies will keep sponsoring due to business need, others will slow or refocus hiring until legal challenges play out.

Political and practical considerations

By positioning the measure as part of H-1B program reform, President Trump has advanced a policy that supporters say protects U.S. workers. Critics argue that the blunt cost increase punishes employers that rely on highly skilled global talent and undermines the United States 🇺🇸 as a magnet for innovation and research.

The lawsuits from business groups and unions underscore a rare alignment of interests across the aisle, centered on how sudden cost surges can reshape labor markets.

For now, candidates should expect corporate screening to include questions about:

• Location
• Current immigration status
• Whether consular processing would be required

Employers will likely prioritize applicants already in valid H-1B status or with alternative work authorization to avoid the $100,000 fee. Those outside the country may face longer waits or be asked to consider roles that do not require immediate U.S. sponsorship.