Iterate.ai has relied heavily on highly trained tech workers from around the globe to meet demand for its customized artificial intelligence agent systems, bringing some of them to the U.S. under the H-1B program when the company can obtain a visa.

Last month, the tech firm’s growth plans were upended when the Trump administration, via a presidential proclamation, added a $100,000 fee per visa to new petitioners of the H-1B program. It also warned that a higher-wage floor was likely, tilting the odds in favor of older and more highly-skilled workers.

“We have a number of guys on H-1B visas and a number we are trying to bring in. If we have to pay $100,000 (per worker), that makes it impossible to hire people on those types of visas,” said Jon Nordmark, CEO and co-founder of Iterate.ai, w

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