[News] Trump Proposes H-1B Visa Changes, Pressuring Indian Tech Workers; TSMC Reportedly Unaffected

According to Reuters, the Trump administration said on Friday it would require companies to pay $100,000 per year for H-1B worker visas, prompting some major tech firms to warn visa holders to remain in the U.S. or return quickly. As the report notes, the change could deliver a major blow to the technology sector, which relies heavily on skilled workers from India and China.

Citing government figures, the report highlights that India was the top recipient of H-1B visas in the past year, accounting for 71% of approvals, while China followed at 11.7%.

Meanwhile, as CBS News notes, citing Labor Department data, Amazon topped all businesses in H-1B visas granted in 2024. The company continues to lead this year as well, with over 10,000 awarded, followed by Tata Consultancy, Microsoft, Apple, and Google.

As noted by Reuters, the H-1B program provides 65,000 visas each year for specialized foreign workers, plus another 20,000 for those with advanced degrees. Employers bear nearly all of the visa costs, and approvals generally last three to six years.

Apart from the adjustments to H-1B visas, Reuters adds that Trump on Friday introduced a “gold card” through executive order, allowing individuals to secure permanent residency in the U.S. for $1 million.

Why TSMC’s U.S. Staff Are Largely Unaffected by H-1B Reforms

Concerns have been raised over whether these changes will affect TSMC’s U.S. workforce. As Commercial Times points out, most of TSMC’s employees in the U.S. hold E-2 work visas, which are not impacted.

The E-2, known as a “treaty investor visa,” is available to citizens of roughly 80 countries that maintain treaties of commerce and navigation with the U.S., including Taiwan, Japan, Australia, and South Korea. According to Commercial Times, unlike the H-1B, the E-2 can be renewed indefinitely, but applicants cannot show immigration intent or freely switch employers. Moreover, because the visa is tied to the company, salaries and employment conditions are not subject to local labor laws.

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(Photo credit: The White House)