White House Raises Concerns About H-1B Visa Programme Impacting American Workers And Jobs

The White House has expressed concerns over the H-1B visa programme, highlighting job replacements of American workers. A new $10,000 fee aims to curb abuses and protect jobs in STEM fields.

International

-Gaurav Sharma

Updated: Sunday, September 21, 2025, 12:53 [IST]

The White House has raised concerns about the H-1B visa programme, highlighting its impact on American workers. A fact sheet revealed that some companies have been replacing US tech employees with foreign workers. This has led to significant layoffs, with one company receiving 5,189 H-1B approvals while dismissing 16,000 American workers. Another firm secured 1,698 approvals but cut 2,400 jobs in Oregon.

Impact on STEM Careers

The administration argues that the H-1B programme is discouraging future American workers from pursuing careers in STEM fields. This is seen as a threat to national security. To address these issues, President Trump announced a $10,000 fee for new H-1B visa petitions. This measure aims to curb programme abuse and protect American jobs by increasing costs for companies seeking foreign talent.

Details of the New Fee

The newly introduced fee applies only to new H-1B petitions and not to renewals or current visa holders. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) clarified that this one-time payment will affect only new applications submitted after September 21, 2025. Current visa holders outside the US are exempt from this fee when re-entering the country.

Specific Company Layoffs

The fact sheet also mentioned other companies' actions regarding layoffs and H-1B approvals. One company reduced its workforce by 27,000 since 2022 despite obtaining 25,075 H-1B approvals. Another firm laid off 1,000 American employees in February while receiving 1,137 approvals for fiscal year 2025. Some American IT workers were reportedly required to train their foreign replacements under nondisclosure agreements.

A White House official stated that the fee would first apply in the upcoming lottery cycle and does not affect winners of the 2025 lottery. The administration's move is part of a broader effort to prevent wage undercutting and safeguard national interests by imposing higher costs on companies using the H-1B programme.