Trump Admin Proposes $103K H-1B Visa Fee, Raising Costs for Amazon

Key Facts

1The Trump administration plans to charge employers a fee of $103,265 for H-1B skilled foreign workers.

2Revenue from the fee would be used to offset the costs of the federal immigration system, including courts and ICE.

3Amazon has been the top recipient of H-1B visas, with over 9,300 approved petitions in FY2026 through June.

In a move reflecting a tightening of labor and immigration policies, the Trump administration has proposed a new regulation to charge employers a fee of $103,265 for each skilled foreign worker under the H-1B visa program. This initiative aims to discourage the hiring of foreign labor over qualified Americans while using the generated revenue to offset federal immigration system costs, including courts and ICE. According to reports, the rule would apply to many individuals already residing in the U.S., rather than just new applications from abroad.

Amazon stands as the primary entity impacted by this proposal, being the top recipient of H-1B visas with over 9,300 approved petitions in FY2026 through June. The proposed regulation argues that the massive fee increase will make foreign labor more expensive, potentially squeezing margins for big tech firms reliant on the program. This development follows findings that H-1B workers earn approximately 15% less than their American counterparts, a gap the administration seeks to close by incentivizing domestic hiring.

Regarding market performance, AMZN closed at $262.07 as of August 24, 2026, trading within a range of $259.05 to $263.32 during that session. Investors are closely monitoring how tech giants will absorb these potential operational costs if the regulation is finalized. Looking ahead, the market awaits the FOMC Minutes scheduled for August 19, which may provide broader economic context impacting the technology sector's outlook.

Sources:

zerohedge.com