U.S. President Donald Trump's recent imposition of a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications has sparked significant debate across the Silicon Valley technology sector.

• The new fee, a steep increase from the previous $1,500, took effect on Sunday.
• Leading technology companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Google are major users of the H-1B program.
• While figures such as Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang support the change for focusing on high-value roles, startups and service firms warn of crippling financial challenges.
• India's IT service sector, which received 71 percent of H-1B approvals in fiscal year 2024, is expected to bear the heaviest brunt.
• Countries like Canada and the UK are actively promoting their own immigration programs, potentially attracting talent away from the U.S.