I gave up on getting an H-1B visa because of the $100k fee. I’m optimistic about my future outside the US.
Executive Take
Skilled workers are opting out of the US hiring pipeline before companies even decide whether to pay the fee. That means US employers lose candidates to policy uncertainty alone, not just cost.
Executive Summary
Shreya Mishra Reddy, an Indian Duke graduate who worked at Visa, abandoned plans to pursue an H-1B visa after the US proposed a $100,000 fee for hiring H-1B workers from outside the country. She left the US in January 2026 and is now choosing between settling in Canada or India instead.
Why It Matters
HR and GCC leaders should note that skilled foreign talent is redirecting itself toward India and Canada instead of waiting out US visa uncertainty. This accelerates the case for building capability centers where the talent already wants to stay.
Bizquad Perspective
The real cost of the $100k fee isn't the money companies might pay, it's the talent that leaves before anyone even applies for a visa.