NVIDIA CEO Warns $100,000 H-1B Fee Could Harm U.S. Talent Access

(UNITED STATES) NVIDIA chief executive Jensen Huang urged caution over a proposed H-1B application fee set at USD 100,000, warning it could choke off early-career talent and tilt the field toward deep-pocketed employers, even as he praised parts of President Trump’s plan to overhaul the skilled worker visa. Speaking on the BG2 Pod podcast, Huang called the reform agenda “a great start” to address abuse and illegal immigration, but said such a high price for new filings “probably sets the bar a little too high” and risks pushing global talent away from the United States.

Huang framed the stakes in direct terms: the country’s ability to attract the world’s brightest minds is a key measure of national health. “Smart people’s desire to come to America … those are what I would call KPIs,” he said, arguing that a fee of USD 100,000 per new H-1B application could undercut that metric. The concern is not abstract for NVIDIA. By fiscal year 2025, the company employed roughly 1,519 H-1B workers out of a workforce of about 36,000, making the chipmaker a large employer of skilled visa holders.

The White House has clarified that the USD 100,000 figure would apply only to new H-1B applicants, not renewals. That nuance matters because renewals help keep experienced workers in place, while front-loading costs on initial filings affects younger professionals and startups most. But even with that clarification, Huang’s concern remained clear: a one-time wall that high could still shut out many who want to start their careers in the United States and build companies here rather than somewhere else.

Debate within tech and policy circles

Huang’s comments land at a tense moment for employers and international graduates weighing their options. Supporters of the fee argue it could deter misuse of the program and filter for top-tier candidates. Critics counter that the price tag is blunt and risky, especially for sectors where innovation depends on fast-moving teams, early-stage ventures, and research-heavy roles that often start with modest salaries.

NVIDIA’s leader, who has championed open talent flows, placed himself in the second camp on cost while maintaining that clean-up steps are welcome.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the push and pull reflects competing goals: tightening the H-1B system while keeping the United States a magnet for scientists, engineers, and founders. That tension runs through Silicon Valley and beyond.

• Some tech figures publicly back the steep fee, saying it would prioritize the strongest applicants.
• Others, including venture investors who fund “garage startup” founders, warn the proposal could freeze the very pipeline that built the modern tech economy.

One point of widespread agreement is that costs shape behavior. A USD 100,000 fee would be trivial for the biggest firms, which already spend heavily on immigration compliance and legal support. But startups and smaller businesses often operate on tight burn rates and short runways.

Huang flagged that disparity as a policy risk: large, established companies could absorb the hit with little pain, while scrappy rivals would think twice before sponsoring even one engineer. In a talent market where speed and quality decide winners, that gap could grow wider.

Potential ripple effects

The ripple effects could stretch across fields that rely on the H-1B program, from chip design to biotech and advanced manufacturing. If the fee narrows entry for new graduates or rising researchers, hiring managers may shift strategy.

• Some could lean harder on offshore teams.
• Others might move projects—or even headquarters—where skilled visas are cheaper and faster.

Industry leaders have already pointed to Canada’s recent outreach to tech workers as a caution flag. Policymakers in Ottawa have courted professionals facing hurdles in the United States, pitching smoother pathways and faster decisions.

The central tension: tighten the system to prevent abuse without driving away the talent that builds startups, patents, and research hubs.

Policy context and Huang’s position

Huang’s stance blends support for reform with a warning about unintended consequences. He welcomed steps that target misuse of the H-1B program and guard against illegal activity—a goal many lawmakers share—but urged against turning cost into a barrier that changes who can apply.

The administration’s message that renewals would not face the USD 100,000 price could reduce churn among existing workers. Yet many of the most transformative hires happen early in a person’s career—often as international students graduate from U.S. universities.

• These students typically carry loans, limited savings, and little negotiating power.
• A sponsor may pay the fee, but startups may bypass candidates who trigger a six-figure cost.
• Larger companies would likely move ahead, adding to their recruiting advantage.

Huang’s remarks also carry weight because of his own path. Born in Taiwan and raised in the United States, he built NVIDIA into a cornerstone of today’s AI and high-performance computing boom. His company’s growth depends on teams that blend global training and experience. As a result, his warning is not just about fairness; it’s about whether the United States keeps its lead in sectors that define the next generation of jobs and security.

The broader reaction across tech has been split.

• Some executives, including prominent founders, argue the fee could sharpen the program’s focus and limit frivolous filings.
• Others say the market already rewards exceptional talent and that cost-based screens punish the wrong people.
• Investor voices like Kevin O’Leary have suggested the United States risks making it “impossible for garage startups,” echoing concerns that a steep fee would harden an already steep climb for new ventures competing with incumbents.

Potential impact on applicants and employers

If a USD 100,000 fee on new filings were adopted, employers would face a stark set of choices.

1. Hiring plans might shift toward candidates who do not need sponsorship.
2. Early-stage and small firms may pursue contractors abroad, delaying or canceling U.S. roles that would have been filled by new graduates.
3. Some founders could make relocation part of their business plan.

The effect on wage pressures is unclear, but a high entry cost could also limit mobility for skilled workers who would otherwise change employers more freely after their first U.S. role.

For would-be applicants, the message matters almost as much as the money. Huang warned that aggressive fee policies send a signal: if ambitious students and researchers feel unwelcome or priced out, they often look elsewhere. Countries that advertise quicker paths and friendlier costs can gain not only workers, but also startup ecosystems, patents, and research hubs that grow around them.

On compliance, many immigration attorneys note that any change of this size would bring a period of uncertainty.

• Companies may pause sponsorship plans until final rules are clear.
• Hiring teams would need to budget and time filings around a new cost structure.
• Supporters say the one-time nature of the fee limits long-term impact, but critics respond that the first job is often the most decisive step in a global worker’s U.S. journey.

H-1B background and resources

Amid the debate, H-1B remains the primary federal route for employers to hire foreign professionals in specialty roles that usually require a bachelor’s degree or higher. The official H-1B program page maintained by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services explains eligibility and process, and serves as the definitive reference for employers and workers USCIS H-1B Specialty Occupations.

While Huang did not comment on specific procedural steps, his focus on cost highlights how a single policy lever can reshape the program’s reach.

NVIDIA’s internal numbers show why the issue resonates inside major tech firms. With 1,519 H-1B employees as of fiscal year 2025, the company relies on a steady pipeline of global specialists. Many companies with similar needs say they support enforcement against bad actors while keeping the door open for genuine hires. Huang’s split view—applauding reform, rejecting a six-figure fee—mirrors that dual priority.

What’s next

What happens next will depend on political negotiations and potential legal fights, which business groups say are possible over fee levels and statutory authority. For now, the proposal remains a flashpoint. Huang’s public stance adds a powerful voice to calls for a more balanced approach that protects the program while keeping America competitive for top talent.

As global competition heats up, the United States has to decide which signals it wants to send. If the goal is to keep leadership in AI, semiconductors, and other advanced fields, then the path into the country matters. A fee of USD 100,000 on new H-1B applications may deter fraud in some cases, but it could also block the very people who build the next NVIDIA.

Huang’s KPIs—how many smart people still want to come—are simple to grasp and hard to ignore.

Huang’s comments have sparked fresh debate in boardrooms and founder forums. Supporters of the fee say it would raise standards. Opponents warn it raises walls. Both sides agree that the H-1B system needs clarity and fairness. The open question is whether cost is the right tool.

For now, recruiters, university career offices, and international graduates are preparing for multiple outcomes, even as they wait for firm rules. Industry groups expect more discussion before any change takes effect.

If policymakers seek a middle road, they could weigh targeted measures that address misuse without blunt costs that favor only the largest firms. Huang’s warning does not dismiss reform; it asks that the solution match the problem. In his view, USD 100,000 for a new H-1B filing would miss that mark—and risk dulling America’s edge when the race for talent is only getting faster.