$100,000 fee for new H-1B visa applicants could disrupt Bay Area tech industry, experts say

""It's a very panic driven situation," said Khanderao Kand."

""Everybody is struggling. I have seen some news about Microsoft, Amazon, other companies communicating with their workers outside the United States -- 'everybody come back,'" said SJSU Professor and tech expert Ahmed Banafa."

""H-1B visa holders would not be admitted without having paid $100,000 -- the employers paying $100,000 for their application," Trasvina said."

President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing a new $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications, expected to take effect Sunday. H-1B visas bring highly skilled workers in science, engineering, architecture, technical fields and mathematics from India and other countries. The announcement created confusion and prompted some workers to rush back to the United States while some employers urged foreign-based employees to return. Initial messaging suggested employers would need to pay $100,000 and that holders might not be admitted without payment, but a clarification limited the fee to new applications as a one-time charge and exempted current H-1B holders. The fee is presented as intended to level the playing field for American workers and could disrupt Bay Area tech firms, startups, and the local talent pool.

Read at ABC7 San Francisco