Nvidia and OpenAI CEOs Respond to Trump’s H-1B Visa Policies

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman weighed in on President Trump’s recent policy shift regarding H-1B visas, following an announcement of a substantial collaboration between the two companies. The comments come as Trump unveiled plans to significantly increase the cost of hiring foreign workers on these visas, potentially reshaping the landscape for U.S. tech and finance.

Under the new directive, announced Friday, the H-1B visa fee will surge to $100,000, a dramatic increase designed to, according to the White House, prioritize American workers. Employers will be required to provide proof of payment before filing an H-1B petition, effectively delaying the application process for up to 12 months. The White House justifies the move as a necessary step to ensure that American companies prioritize domestic talent and invest in training programs.

Huang and Altman addressed these changes in an interview with CNBC’s Jon Fortt, coinciding with the announcement that Nvidia will invest $100 billion in OpenAI. This investment supports OpenAI’s ambitious plan to construct data centers predicated on Nvidia’s cutting-edge AI processors, a move reflecting the escalating demand for computational power in AI development.

“We want all the brightest minds to come to the U.S.,” Huang stated. “Immigration is the foundation of the American Dream. We represent the American Dream. Immigration is really important to our company and to our nation’s future, and I’m glad to see President Trump making the moves he’s making.” Huang’s statement, while seemingly supportive of Trump’s actions, hints at a broader acceptance of policy changes that might streamline the vetting process even if they involve higher costs for entry.

Altman echoed a similar sentiment, stating, “We need to get the smartest people in the country, and streamlining that process and also sort of outlining financial incentives seems good to me.” This suggests a potential acceptance that increased costs could lead to a more efficient, albeit more expensive, process of attracting top global talent.

The increased fee represents a potential disruption to sectors heavily reliant on the H-1B program, particularly the tech and finance industries. These sectors historically depend on specialized talent from countries such as India and China, which accounted for a significant majority of visa holders in previous years. The long-term impact on innovation and competitiveness remains a key concern for many industry stakeholders. Some analysts suggest that the increased cost could incentivize companies to relocate certain research and development activities to countries with more accessible talent pools, potentially impacting the U.S.’s dominance in technological innovation. The policy may also spur increased investment in domestic training programs to mitigate reliance on H-1B workers.

Clarifications have been issued stating that individuals holding existing H-1B visas and currently residing outside the U.S. will not be subject to the new fee upon re-entry. This provision aims to minimize disruption for existing visa holders already contributing to the U.S. economy. Nevertheless, the long-term implications of this shift in immigration policy for both companies and foreign workers are still unfolding.