Now Reading: US firms reshape H-1B hiring as immigration costs rise
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US firms reshape H-1B hiring as immigration costs rise
US employers are shifting to longer-term immigration plans as Trump administration policies make H-1B hiring costlier and less predictable, the Times of India reports, citing Envoy Global’s 2026 survey of 519 HR…
The Story in Brief
US employers are shifting to longer-term immigration plans as Trump administration policies make H-1B hiring costlier and less predictable, the Times of India reports, citing Envoy Global’s 2026 survey of 519 HR and global mobility professionals. Plans increasingly start with student visas, continue through H-1B sponsorship and move towards earlier green card applications. The changes include a $100,000 H-1B consular processing fee, a wage-weighted selection system and a proposal to raise prevailing wage levels.
Demand remains strong, but registration numbers do not equal new hiring, Envoy Global said. Nearly six in 10 employers filed more registrations than the previous year, partly because companies re-register unsuccessful candidates. Ninety-three per cent support F-1 work authorisation programmes, while 83% use premium processing. H-1B remains the main route across industries, despite employers exploring alternatives.
The Indian Opinion
The loudest claims on both sides miss the detail. Higher H-1B registrations do not prove a hiring boom, just as rising fees have not ended employer demand. The survey points to a system that still depends heavily on international students and paid speed, while smaller firms face heavier costs. The fair test is whether the proposed wage rules and $100,000 fee reduce genuine sponsorship or simply push more firms towards repeat registrations and premium processing.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
