US lawmakers are scrutinizing large U.S. companies, including Amazon and Apple, over their use of H-1B visas amid American layoffs- WSJ

US lawmakers are scrutinizing large U.S. companies, including Amazon and Apple, over their use of H-1B visas amid American layoffs- WSJ

US lawmakers are scrutinizing large U.S. companies, including Amazon and Apple, over their use of H-1B visas amid American layoffs, according to a recent report in the Wall Street Journal. This comes as the US Chamber of Commerce is considering a lawsuit against the Trump administration over a new policy that imposes a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications .

The White House's September 19 announcement of the fee has sparked concern among major companies, with the US Chamber of Commerce conducting polls among its members to gauge support for a legal challenge . The chamber, which represents some of the country's largest corporations, has previously sued the Trump administration over immigration policies, including a proclamation suspending new nonimmigrant visas in 2020 .

The proposed fee hike, if implemented, would primarily affect technology companies that dominate the H-1B program. Amazon, for instance, has hired 10,044 employees with H-1B visas between 2009 and June 2025, while Microsoft and Meta have employed 5,189 and 5,123 H-1B visa holders, respectively . The new policy would also overhaul the annual lottery for H-1B visas, giving applicants with higher-paying job offers a better chance of being selected .

The US Chamber faces several unknowns as it crafts a strategy to push back against the Trump administration's new policies. The exact implementation details, such as which agency will process the $100,000 fee, remain unclear . Additionally, major tech companies are hesitant to lead any strategy against the policy changes due to potential backlash from the Trump administration .

Despite these challenges, tech lobbyists are beginning to push back against the changes, arguing that they could hinder the development of artificial intelligence in the US . Jason Oxman, CEO of the Information Technology Industry Council, emphasized the importance of attracting global talent to innovate and create jobs in the US .

The US Chamber of Commerce is currently examining the legal basis for the proclamation and is communicating member concerns directly to the administration . The chamber will need to identify a handful of companies to file alongside it in order to demonstrate legal standing and demonstrable harm.