Kuei-mei Ghostley (Gandy Dancer)

I think giving every H1B Visa holder a straight path to a Green Card is problematic. While I sympathize with their struggles, we need to remember that immigration is not just about economics but also about national priorities. If every H1B worker was guaranteed permanent residency, it would create even more demand for the visa, potentially overwhelming the system further. Instead of making the process automatic, the U.S. should consider a merit-based system. For example, workers with higher salaries, advanced degrees, or specialized skills in critical industries could be given faster access to Green Cards. This would ensure the U.S. retains the best talent while keeping the system manageable. So yes, the system should be restructured, but with selectivity, not a blanket policy.

I want to take a slightly different perspective. While the $100,000 fee sounds outrageous, it might reduce the misuse of H1B Visas by small “body-shopping” firms that mass-apply for visas and then subcontract workers. Those firms often don’t pay workers fairly or abuse loopholes. By raising the cost, the government might be filtering out players who misuse the system. Still, the problem is balance. Genuine startups that need one or two highly skilled employees are lumped into the same category as shady staffing firms. A better approach would have been to target the exploitative firms with stricter regulations, not punish every small business. In short: while the intention might be good, the execution is flawed, and the outcome is that only the big tech companies will truly benefit.