Rattled by Trump's Chaotic H-1B Policy, US Firms Quietly Wait Out Changes

The Trump administration’s steep new visa fees for highly specialized H-1B work visas have rattled US businesses, but most big companies are staying quiet as they wait to see how the policy plays out.

The White House’s announcement Sept. 19 of a $100,000 fee sparked panic among employers and workers, particularly in the tech sector, which uses it to bring in trained engineers and programmers. A separate proposal released Tuesday would overhaul the annual lottery for H-1B visas, giving applicants with higher-paying job offers a better chance of being chosen.