Giora role.

I think the new $100,000 fee will absolutely discourage small and mid-sized companies. For giants like Google, Amazon, or Microsoft, this fee is just a minor expense compared to their budgets. But for startups or smaller consulting firms, it’s a game-changer. Imagine a company trying to hire one or two skilled developers from abroad. Paying $100,000 upfront, just for a chance to bring in a worker, is practically impossible for them. What this will likely do is consolidate the H1B Visa program in favor of large corporations, creating more imbalance. Smaller businesses that often bring innovation into the ecosystem won’t have the ability to compete. Ironically, the H1B system was originally designed to fill gaps in specialized roles, not to become a privilege reserved for companies with billions in the bank. From a broader perspective, this could also harm the U.S. economy. Skilled professionals may simply choose to go to Canada, Germany, or Australia, where immigration pathways are more affordable and predictable. So, while the intent might be to “protect” U.S. jobs, in reality, it could make the U.S. less competitive globally.