The introduction of million fees triggered full panic.
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With a pen on Friday, US President Donald Trump triggered full panic, confusion and anger in the technology industry.
As part of limiting immigration to the United States, it became clear that the fee for applying for working visas of the type H-1B, which is especially used by highly educated workers in the technology industry, will be increased to $ 100,000.
This corresponds to just under NOK 1 million. According to CBS News, the price tag has previously been somewhere between NOK 17,000 and 45,000.
Trump warning: – Continued uncertainty
– in the latest team
According to Reuters and the Financial Times, technology companies sent out urgent reports to employees who were outside the US limits, where they were advised to return to the country immediately. They were also warned against leaving the country.
Companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet and Goldman Sachs are among those who are supposed to have sent urgent reports to their employees with travel advice.
Among other things, the BBC has been in contact with an IT specialist who was in India when Trump signed the decision. He spent about NOK 80,000 on ordering new return tickets to the United States, for fear of not letting back in when the new rule came into force.
– Then we have to pay back
– I ordered several options because most people wanted the country in the latest team, says the man, who does not want to names.
– regret
According to NTB, which refers to figures from the US authorities, over 70 percent of the visa holders for this particular scheme from India are, while around 12 percent are from China.
Facing the BBC, the IT specialist describes in recent days as “traumatic” and adds that he is relieved that his wife and daughter were not with him to India on the trip.
– people are in shock
– Right now I regret the choices I have made in life. I gave my youth to work for the United States, and now I feel I’m not wanted. My daughter has spent her entire life in the United States. I’m not sure how to tear up my roots here and start all over again in India, he says.
Reuters has spoken to an Nvidia engineer who has lived in the United States for ten years. He was on vacation in Japan with his wife and children when he suddenly had to throw himself around and book new return tickets after receiving the news.
– It feels surreal. Everything changes in a moment, he says.
On Tuesday, August 5, US President Donald Trump was observed on the roof of the White House. Video: Ap. Reporter: Marte Nyløkken Helseth.
Had to clarify
On Saturday, the White House went out to clarify some of the confusion about who would be affected. Then it was stated that the order only applied to new applicants, and not persons with existing visas or those who applied for renewal.
Furthermore, they responded to the criticism that had come:
– a good thing
– This will ensure that the people we take in are actually highly qualified and that they cannot be replaced by American workers. It will protect American workers, but at the same time ensure that companies have a way to hire truly extraordinary people and bring them to the United States, the White House said.
In a post on X also the White House’s press spokesman Karoline Leavitt also stated that it will not be an annual fee, but a lump sum. She added that the new fee will only apply to “new visas, not renewals and not current visa holders”.
