Nvidia's Jensen Huang and OpenAI's Sam Altman React to New H-1B $100K Fee

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expressed optimism about changes to the H-1B visa program, which includes a $100,000 fee for new applicants. Huang praised President Trump's moves, saying immigration is important to his company and the nation's future. Altman agreed, stating the need to attract the "smartest people in the country" and align financial incentives. The changes sparked confusion and uncertainty among tech firms, but the CEOs remained positive.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have expressed support for President Donald Trump's decision to raise the H-1B visa fee to $100,000. The tech executives made their comments during a CNBC interview with Jon Fortt, where they announced Nvidia's $100 billion investment in OpenAI for AI data center development using Nvidia processors .

Jensen Huang praised the move, stating, "We want all the brightest minds to come to the US and remember immigration is the foundation of the American Dream. We represent the American Dream. And so I think immigration is really important to our company and is really important to our nation's future, and I'm glad to see President Trump making the moves he's making." OpenAI CEO Sam Altman echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of attracting the "smartest people in the country" and streamlining the H-1B visa process .

The $100,000 H-1B visa fee represents a significant change for the technology and finance sectors, which rely heavily on the program for highly skilled immigrants. India and China accounted for 71% and 11.7% of H-1B visa holders last year, respectively . The new fee structure is expected to impact how many companies access talent, as H-1B visas are often the primary way for high-skilled foreign nationals to work long-term in the US.

The announcement of Nvidia's $100 billion investment in OpenAI coincided with the H-1B visa discussion. This partnership focuses on building data centers worth hundreds of billions of dollars using Nvidia's AI processors, representing one of the largest investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure .

While the CEOs remained optimistic, the changes have sparked confusion and uncertainty among tech firms. Employers may respond by increasing offshoring and hiring more people outside the United States, which could be counterproductive to the proclamation's aim of attracting talent .

The presidential proclamation, issued on September 19, 2025, will impose a likely prohibitive $100,000 fee on the entry of individuals with new H-1B visas. The restriction lasts for 12 months but is expected to endure throughout the Trump administration . However, foreign nationals with an H-1B petition filed on or after September 21, 2025, are subject to the new entry restrictions .

Immigration lawsuits are expected to follow the proclamation. Attorneys believe they have a strong case but may have to contend with a Supreme Court that has often deferred to the president on immigration policy .