US$100,000 H-1B visa fee may draw top talent to Asia: analysts

[SINGAPORE] The hefty new US$100,000 H-1B visa fee for foreigners working in top jobs in the United States may see talent moving to alternative hubs around the world, analysts told The Business Times.

The visa fee will make hiring foreign talent more expensive for US firms, and make it more attractive for them to locate their talent in Asia.

Dr Lei Hsien-Hsien, chief executive officer of The American Chamber Of Commerce in Singapore, said the visa fee hike is a consequence of the Trump administration’s plans, which prioritise jobs for Americans.