The U.S. and Texas State flags fly at the Texas Capitol building in Austin, Texas, U.S. Augusts 21, 2025. Photo by ReutersThe pause in the red state, which is home to thousands of H-1B visa holders, comes amid actions by the Trump administration aimed at reshaping the visa program.Critics argue that it has become a pipeline for overseas workers willing to work for lower pay and is taking job opportunities from Americans. But supporters say the program is crucial to attract top global talent, fill specialize ...

Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is permitting employees stranded in India due to visa delays to work remotely until early March.Remote Work With LimitationsThis decision to allow remote work comes amidst changes to the H-1B visa program under the Trump administration.Employees can work remotely until March 2 if they were in India as of December 13 and are awaiting rescheduled visa appointments, according to an internal memo viewed by Business Insider.However, they face strict limitations: coding, strategic de ...

Core Insights - The introduction of a $100,000 H-1B application fee by President Trump poses significant challenges for consulting firms in talent acquisition, similar to those faced by tech companies [1][7] - Nearly 50% of H-1B applications are linked to professional, scientific, and technical services, highlighting the reliance of consulting firms on foreign skilled workers [2] - The H-1B program has been a crucial source of mid-level consultants with specialized skills, which are hard to find in the domestic market [4] Industry Impact - Consulting firms like Deloitte, EY, and Accenture are among the largest employers of H-1B visa holders, with Deloitte hiring 7,535 workers in the last three years, representing about 1% of its US workforce [5] - Accenture and EY have also significantly relied on H-1B visa holders, with 5,862 and 5,298 hires respectively, accounting for nearly 10% of their US headcounts [5] - The new application fee is expected to increase competition for talent and may lead to accelerated offshoring strategies among consulting firms [7] Strategic Responses - Consulting leaders express concern that the increased costs associated with H-1B visas will add friction to an already competitive talent market [4][6] - Major firms are anticipated to absorb some of the higher visa costs while adjusting their staffing models to maintain continuity [6] - Smaller consulting firms will need to enhance their ability to attract domestic talent, particularly for mid-level positions, to cope with the changes [6]

By Johann M Cherian and Kanchana Chakravarty (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump imposed new fees on H-1B visas on Friday as part of his wide-ranging crackdown on immigration. Trump's executive order, which took effect at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Sunday (0401 GMT), hikes the fee for H-1B visa applicants to $100,000. It is a one-time fee applied only to new applicants and not holders of existing visas or those seeking renewals. WHAT IS THE H-1B VISA PROGRAM? Established under the Immigration Act of 1990, th ...

Group 1: H-1B Visa Fee Impact - President Trump imposed a one-time $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions, causing immediate concern in the tech industry [2][3] - Shares of IT services companies like Infosys, Wipro, and Cognizant Technology Solutions saw notable declines, with Infosys ADRs dropping 3.41% to $16.97 and Cognizant down 4.75% to $66.94 [3] - Analysts expressed that the fee would significantly impact both Indian and US-listed IT companies, with predictions of skyrocketing employee costs [3][4] Group 2: Market Reactions to Tariffs - On August 1, 2025, Trump announced a 35% tariff on certain Canadian goods, leading to a 0.88% drop in the Toronto Stock Exchange and declines in major US indices [5][6] - The S&P 500 fell 1.6%, marking its largest decline since May, while the Dow Jones and Nasdaq also experienced significant drops [5][6] - Analysts noted that the combination of tariffs and weaker-than-expected employment data contributed to market volatility [6] Group 3: Broader Market Resilience - Despite policy-induced jitters, major US tech companies like Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and NVIDIA showed resilience, with Alphabet trading at $235.15 and Amazon up 4.8% [10] - As of September 20, 2025, major indices reflected a mixed but generally upward trend, with the S&P 500 at 6,664.36 (+0.5%) and the Dow Jones at 46,315.27 (+0.4%) [11] - The ongoing uncertainty in economic policy continues to create a volatile environment for investors [11]

Core Viewpoint - The Trump administration's proposal to charge companies $100,000 annually for H-1B worker visas could significantly impact the technology sector, which heavily relies on skilled workers from India and China [1][2]. Group 1: Immigration Policy Changes - The Trump administration has initiated a broad immigration crackdown, including efforts to limit legal immigration, with the H-1B visa program being a focal point of these changes [2]. - The new fee structure for H-1B visas is set to take effect soon, prompting major tech companies to advise their visa-holding employees to remain in the U.S. or return quickly [4][5]. Group 2: Industry Reactions - Major companies like Microsoft, JPMorgan, and Amazon have communicated to their H-1B visa employees to avoid international travel until further guidance is provided [5]. - The internal communications from these companies indicate a proactive approach to mitigate the potential disruptions caused by the new visa fee structure [4]. Group 3: Perspectives on H-1B Program - Critics of the H-1B program argue that it enables companies to suppress wages and displace American workers, while supporters claim it is essential for attracting highly skilled talent necessary for competitiveness [6]. - The executive order signed by Trump highlights concerns that some employers have exploited the H-1B program to the detriment of U.S. workers [7].