Washington – The Computer & Communications Industry Association filed comments urging the Department of Homeland Security to withdraw its proposal to impose a $103,265 fee on H-1B petitions, warning that the fee could make it significantly more expensive for U.S. companies to recruit specialized global talent while undermining U.S. competitiveness in AI and other emerging technologies. 

CCIA points out in its comments that steep hikes in visa fees are out of sync with existing fee structures, and that there are “serious flaws in the demand and revenue assumptions underlying the $103,265 fee.” CCIA said DHS is failing to recognize the need to compete for a skilled workforce to ensure continued leadership on emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.

Meanwhile, CCIA’s Research Center studied DHS’s proposed $103,265 H-1B fee and found it could cost the U.S. Treasury more than it raises if filings decline by more than about one-quarter. The study found that a 36 to 38 percent decline in H-1B filings would reduce federal receipts by an estimated $32 billion to $38 billion over 10 years, while a 75 percent decline could result in a $142 billion reduction.

CCIA has long advocated for high-skilled immigration policies that allow U.S. companies to recruit specialized workers and compete globally for talent. The comments warn that making specialized workers substantially more expensive to employ in the U.S. could instead encourage companies to locate workers, research, and invest abroad.

“To lead in technologies like AI, the U.S. needs the infrastructure, regulatory environment, and workforce to compete globally. It is shortsighted to make global talent dramatically more expensive for U.S. companies while our economic competitors are aggressively competing for it.”

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