H-1B visa fee hike sparks reactions from Nvidia's Jensen Huang and OpenAI's Sam Altman: “Immigration is the foundation of the American Dream...”

The Donald Trump administration’s decision to raise the H-1B visa application fee to an unprecedented $100,000 has triggered swift reactions across the technology sector. While many companies expressed concern about the seismic impact on global hiring and talent flows, two of Silicon Valley’s most influential leaders, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman , struck a surprisingly supportive tone. In a joint interview, Huang emphasized that immigration is vital for America’s innovative future, while Altman welcomed the move as a step toward attracting the world’s brightest minds. Their remarks highlight a nuanced split in the tech industry’s response to the controversial policy shift.


What did Jensen Huang and Sam Altman say on the H-1B visa fee hike
Jensen Huang (Nvidia CEO)

Huang stressed that immigration remains central to both US prosperity and his company’s growth. “We want all the brightest minds to come to the US and remember immigration is the foundation of the American Dream,” he said. Speaking alongside Altman, Huang also announced Nvidia’s $100 billion investment in OpenAI’s AI data center projects, underscoring the role of global talent in scaling innovation.


Sam Altman (OpenAI CEO)

Altman described the fee hike as a constructive policy shift, remarking, “We need to attract the most intelligent individuals to the country, and simplifying that process along with establishing financial incentives seems beneficial to me.” He suggested the move could streamline immigration while reinforcing incentives for top-tier talent.


The White House confirmed that the $100,000 fee applies only to new H-1B applications, not renewals or reentry for existing visa holders. Employers must provide proof of payment before filing, and applicants face a 12-month restriction on petitions until fees are cleared. The administration framed the policy as a way to ensure that companies hire only highly skilled, irreplaceable workers rather than relying on foreign labor for roles that could be filled domestically.


Tech industry and Indian reaction to H-1B fee hike
The policy poses significant challenges for India and China, which together accounted for over 80% of H-1B visas last year. Indian IT giants now face hundreds of millions in additional costs, raising concerns over reduced operating profits and uncertainty for thousands of tech professionals. Analysts warn the hike could fuel a “reverse brain drain,” with skilled talent opting to stay in or return to India, boosting local hiring and innovation ecosystems. Meanwhile, NASSCOM and the Indian government voiced economic and humanitarian concerns but signaled a willingness to maintain dialogue with Washington.

The announcement sparked urgent strategic shifts. Companies like JPMorgan reportedly advised H-1B employees to avoid international travel until the new rules took effect. Despite broader industry alarm, Huang and Altman’s endorsement illustrates how some leaders view the fee hike as an opportunity to raise the bar for US immigration, channeling only the most exceptional global talent into critical sectors like AI and advanced computing. Some industry experts caution that such a high fee may inadvertently encourage alternative visa routes or offshore hiring, potentially reshaping global talent pipelines.