NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang has sharply criticized President Donald Trump's proposed $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications, arguing that such a policy would have prevented his own family from immigrating to the United States. The Taiwanese-born executive said the proposal, announced in September 2025, risks undermining the very immigrant-driven innovation that fuels America's technology sector.
"I don't think that my family would have been able to afford the $100,000, and so the opportunity for my family and for me to be here would not have been possible with this current policy," Huang stated. He added, "immigration is the foundation of the American dream... anyone can come to America, and through hard work and some talent, be able to build a better future for yourself."
Despite describing the proposal as "a great start," Huang acknowledged that the plan "probably sets the bar a little too high." His comments highlight the delicate balance facing policymakers seeking to reform the visa system without discouraging the global talent pipeline that has long powered U.S. innovation.
In an internal memo to employees, Huang announced that NVIDIA would continue sponsoring H-1B visas and cover the proposed fees for its foreign employees. "As one of many immigrants at NVIDIA, I know that the opportunities we've found in America have profoundly shaped our lives," he wrote. "And the miracle of NVIDIA - built by all of you, and by brilliant colleagues around the world - would not be possible without immigration."
NVIDIA is one of Silicon Valley's largest users of H-1B visas, relying on engineers, AI researchers, and chip designers from around the world. The company's decision to absorb the costs represents a signal of stability to its international staff as uncertainty grows over the new policy's impact.
The $100,000 fee, part of Trump's "America First" labor reform plan, aims to curb perceived abuse of the H-1B visa program and prioritize U.S. citizens for technical jobs. The administration argues that higher costs will deter misuse by outsourcing firms, but critics contend that it could lead to a "brain drain" by pricing out startups and smaller companies that depend on foreign expertise.
