How the H-1B visa fee spike will affect WA companies

How the H-1B visa fee spike will affect WA companies

Kim Malcolm

Shane Mehling

Monica Nickelsburg

September 22, 2025 / 6:03 pm

President Trump has proposed overhauling a key visa program supported by many large tech firms, including Washington-based Microsoft and Amazon.

President Trump has proposed overhauling a key visa program supported by many large tech firms, including Washington-based Microsoft and Amazon.

Those companies and many others use the H-1B program to hire highly-skilled foreign workers. Trump wants to impose a $100,000 fee for those visas, which has upended future hiring plans for many companies.

Kim Malcolm spoke to KUOW reporter Monica Nickelsburg about what these companies plan to do in the face of these new fees.

This interview has been edited for clarity.