Amazon, Microsoft, and Google discussed strategies to skirt the new $100,000 H-1B fee by focusing on hiring through the Optional Practical Training program. These firms are prioritizing existing visa holders and STEM graduates to avoid the costs while smaller businesses lack similar alternatives. Rimidi, an Atlanta-based healthcare startup, reported that the high fee remains prohibitive for smaller entities. The Trump administration is maintaining that the policy will ensure only top-tier talent enters the country.
