Donald Trump’s recent H-1B visa fee increase to $100,000 may turn into a silver lining for tech professionals who were recently laid off by companies like Oracle, Intel, Microsoft and AWS. The fee hike applies to new H-1B applicants, but renewals, re-entries and employer transfers remain exempt, providing a unique opportunity for employers to consider recently unemployed H-1B workers.
Since the start of 2025, 533 rounds of layoffs at technology firms have affected 144,926 individuals, according to data from a monitoring platform. In 2024, 1,115 rounds of staff reductions impacted 238,461 professionals.
H-1B visa holders who lose their jobs have a 60-day window to find alternative employment or leave the United States. “Some of the ones laid off might be getting a call back,” said Navneet S Chugh, attorney at a US-based immigration law firm, highlighting that current visa holders can benefit from the exemption.
Sachin Alug, CEO of a recruitment company, said: “Because they already hold H-1B status, they can often transition through a transfer petition without re-entering the lottery, making them highly attractive in terms of speed and cost efficiency.”
A product manager in Mountain View, California, who was recently laid off, said: “The moment I heard the news, I thought my days in the US were officially over. But after the clarification, there is a renewed hope. I am aggressively applying and expecting recruitment calls over the next week.”
Sanketh Chengappa KG, director at a staffing firm, added that many laid-off professionals may receive opportunities for rehiring or attractive offers from alternative organisations. This creates a pool of ready talent for crucial positions in technology, engineering and strategic digital sectors.
Major US corporations including Amazon, Meta and Google are expected to benefit the most, as they can afford the increased visa fees. Immigration specialists noted that the $100,000 fee roughly corresponds to the annual compensation of a typical employee recruited under the programme.
Debarghya Das, partner at a US-based venture firm, said: “The impact on companies remains uncertain. IT services organisations and employers offering lower wages may bear the brunt, accounting for approximately 40 to 60 percent of all H-1B applications.” He added that major tech firms typically maintain a modest H-1B workforce, with renewals forming the majority of applications.
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