October 7, 2025 – Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has assured staff that the technology giant will continue to fully sponsor H-1B visas for international employees, including shouldering the substantial $100,000 per-application fee introduced by President Donald Trump’s recent executive order. This commitment comes as the U.S. tech industry reacts to the Trump administration’s sweeping changes to employment-based immigration.

Nvidia’s Continued Support for Immigrant Talent

In an internal message to employees, Huang reaffirmed Nvidia’s dedication to supporting its global workforce. “As one of many immigrants at Nvidia, I know that the opportunities we’ve found in America have profoundly shaped our lives. The miracle of Nvidia—built by all of you, and by brilliant colleagues around the world—would not be possible without immigration,” Huang wrote.

Huang acknowledged the significant impact immigration has had on Nvidia’s ascent to become one of the world’s most valuable public companies. With a market capitalization that exceeded $4.5 trillion by late 2025, Nvidia stands at the forefront of artificial intelligence hardware and software, driving innovation across industries.

The New H-1B Visa Landscape

President Trump’s executive order, signed in September 2025, imposed a $100,000 fee for each new H-1B visa application—a dramatic increase from the prior fees that generally ranged from $1,700 to $6,000 depending on company size and legal costs. In addition, annual renewal fees also saw hefty increases.

According to the Trump administration, the measure aims to encourage domestic hiring and stem what officials describe as “abuse” of the H-1B program, which allows U.S. companies to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations. Critics, however, warn that such steep financial barriers may have the opposite effect, prompting companies to accelerate hiring abroad or outsource critical talent overseas.

Nvidia’s Place in the H-1B Ecosystem

Data compiled by the Department of Labor shows Nvidia continues to rank among the top sponsors of H-1B visas in the U.S. tech industry. In 2025 alone, Nvidia reportedly secured nearly 1,500 H-1B approvals—a higher number than peers such as Apple, Google, and Amazon. The ability to tap global scientific and engineering talent remains central to the expansion of Nvidia’s highly specialized teams working on graphics processing units (GPUs), AI frameworks, and autonomous driving technology.

Other leading tech firms are grappling with the same regulatory headwinds, but the new fee structure will test the resilience of smaller, cash-constrained startups. While companies like Nvidia possess balance sheets robust enough to absorb these costs, industry analysts warn that the $100,000 visa levy could deter newer entrants from hiring needed talent, tilting the competitive landscape further in favor of large incumbents.

Jensen Huang’s Reflections and Industry Reaction

Huang, himself an immigrant from Taiwan who co-founded Nvidia in 1993, struck a personal note in his memo. He emphasized that legal immigration remains essential to ensuring the U.S. continues to lead the world in technology and ideas. He added that the recent changes to the H-1B program reaffirm America’s commitment to attracting and retaining exceptional global talent.

In media interviews this year, Huang generally supported the Trump order’s intent but offered nuanced feedback. Speaking on CNBC in September, he expressed that the executive order delivered a “great start” for revamping immigration but cautioned that a $100,000 fee risks setting the bar “a little too high”—particularly for companies with fewer resources. On the “BG2 Pod” podcast, he acknowledged critics’ concerns, agreeing that such financial hurdles could “kneecap startups in talent wars.”

Industry associations including the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) and the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) have lobbied against the fee hikes, arguing that they jeopardize America’s competitiveness on the global stage. According to recent research from the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP), over 70% of graduate students in AI and computer science at U.S. universities are international. Blocking their entry, experts contend, could slow research, technological advancement, and job creation far beyond the tech sector.

The Economic Stakes

The United States has long benefited from an open door to global talent. Nearly 45% of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children, per a 2023 report. Within Silicon Valley, the majority of high-growth startups attribute their success to hiring from abroad—particularly for the most advanced computer science, AI, and engineering roles.

With Nvidia’s global workforce surpassing 29,000 employees, the company’s decision to fully subsidize the visa fee positions it to remain a magnet for the brightest minds, even as the regulatory environment grows less hospitable. Still, many question whether rival firms and industry newcomers can or will do the same, and how this will affect the tech sector’s innovation engine long term.

Moving Forward

In his message, Huang encouraged team members to reach out to Nvidia’s immigration team with any questions. The company declined to comment further when contacted by press, but its internal communication stands in sharp contrast to the uncertainty rippling through the broader tech labor pool.

Even as geopolitical and policy shifts continue to reshape the landscape, Nvidia’s stance is likely to set a precedent among global tech leaders—reinforcing the principle that welcoming top international talent is not just a moral but a business imperative in the 21st century.