Kishore Khandavalli, who began his U.S. career on an H-1B visa, now runs a software consulting firm in Dallas, employing many H-1B visa holders due to a skills gap in the U.S. workforce. He expressed concern when President Trump raised the H-1B visa fee to $100,000 in 2025, a move later invalidated by a federal judge who deemed it an unauthorized tax. Khandavalli, who relies heavily on Indian workers, had halted hiring due to the fee, which would have cost him $1 million annually. The fee increase also affected students like Ravi Bushan in India, who reconsidered moving to the U.S. due to changing immigration policies. Khandavalli fears further barriers could force him to outsource work, threatening a vital talent pipeline. The Trump administration is appealing the decision, raising concerns about the future of innovation and talent retention in the U.S.
QUESTION: How might changes in immigration policies impact the global competitiveness of U.S. businesses?
With uncertainty around H-1B visa fee, U.S. businesses unsure how to move forward
