NO FEES, NO BORDERS IMAGINING AN AI-POWERED WORLD BEYOND H-1B VISAS

As someone who's seen friends and colleagues struggle with the hard H-1B visa process, envision a future where talent flows freely, unleashed by fees or borders. Artificial intelligence is not just a tool it's a revolution that can dismantle the barriers of traditional work visas, creating a global, equitable workforce. This isn't a distant dream, it's a transformation unfolding now, powered by AI's ability to redefine how we work, hire, and collaborate across the globe.

- By M R Yuvatha, Senior Correspondent, siliconindia

Let's start with the H-1B's harsh realities. This U.S. visa, designed for skilled foreign workers in tech, engineering, and beyond, comes with a punishing price tag. As of September 2025, under new policies, initial H-1B petitions now demand a staggering $100,000 fee, up from previous ranges of $2,000 to $5,000. The annual cap remains at 85,000, with processing delays stretching months, often forcing relocations that disrupt lives.

Geopolitical tensions add invisible walls, turning opportunity into ordeal. Recent USCIS data shows that the FY 2025 H-1B cap was reached on December 2024, leaving many skilled professionals sidelined. These aren't just administrative hurdles they're innovation killers.

As Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently says, "We want all the brightest minds to come to the U.S. and remember immigration is the foundation of the American Dream".

Echoing own frustrations, Elon Musk has defended the program's roots, "The reason I'm in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H-1B".

AI Becomes the New Visa