Core Points - Walmart Inc has paused offers to candidates requiring H-1B visas due to the Trump administration's new $100,000 visa fees, impacting its corporate workforce [1][2] - The new fee structure aims to overhaul the H-1B visa program and reduce its overuse, affecting various industries that employ H-1B visa holders [2] - Walmart is the largest user of H-1B visas among major retail chains, employing approximately 2,390 H-1B visa holders, which is a small fraction of its total US workforce of about 1.6 million [2] Company Insights - Walmart's commitment to hiring and investing in talent remains, but the company is being cautious about its H-1B hiring approach in light of the new regulations [3] - Compared to tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta, Walmart's reliance on H-1B visa holders is relatively minor [3]

Core Points - The recent announcement regarding the $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications has caused significant confusion, initially unclear whether it applied to new applicants or existing holders [1][2] - The White House later clarified that the fee applies only to new applicants, but the initial chaos led many tech companies to advise employees against international travel [3][4] - The fee is seen as unmanageable for startups and small businesses, potentially hindering their ability to hire necessary talent [5][6] - Larger tech companies may cope better with the fee, but the overall impact on innovation and competitiveness for American startups is concerning [7][10] - The H-1B visa is crucial not only for tech companies but also for various industries, including healthcare and research institutions [10][11] - There are concerns that companies may pause international hiring or shift operations abroad due to the new fee, affecting U.S. workers [13] - The proclamation includes language for national interest exceptions, but the high evidentiary standards may limit its effectiveness [14][15] - Legal challenges to the executive order are anticipated, with arguments focusing on Congress's role in setting immigration laws and fees [16][17] - The recent Supreme Court decision may complicate efforts to issue nationwide injunctions against the proclamation [18][19]

Group 1 - Large-cap US technology companies' shares remained steady in premarket trading following the introduction of new visa fees by the Trump administration [1] - The administration proposed a fee of $100,000 per year for H-1B working visas, leading to urgent travel advisories from major companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, and Goldman Sachs [2] - The "Magnificent 7" group, which includes Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, and Tesla, saw their shares trading less than 1% above or below their previous close [2] Group 2 - In the first half of 2025, Amazon and its cloud-computing unit AWS received approval for over 12,000 H-1B visas, while Microsoft and Meta Platforms each had over 5,000 approvals [3] - The current visa lottery system requires a small entry fee, with subsequent fees potentially amounting to several thousand dollars if approved [3]