Startups

A proposed $100,000 H-1B visa fee by the U.S. government is causing alarm among American startups, potentially hindering their growth by restricting access to crucial foreign talent, especially in IT and engineering. Founders fear the fee is prohibitively expensive, disproportionately impacting early-stage companies and forcing them to consider less qualified domestic applicants. Legal tech firms report a surge in inquiries as startups grapple with uncertainty. VCs worry about stifled innovation, reduced investment, and a potential shift of talent and capital to countries like the UK and Canada.