H-1B Visa Policy Threatens Pakistan’s Tech Workforce
The newly proposed $100,000 annual fee under the revised H-1B visa policy has triggered alarm across South Asia, especially in Pakistan and India. These countries supply the majority of skilled professionals entering the U.S. under this program. While the policy is framed as a measure to protect American jobs, its consequences could be far-reaching—disrupting talent pipelines, straining immigrant communities, and weakening innovation on both sides of the globe.
Pakistani STEM Workers and the H-1B Visa Fee
Pakistan’s tech and engineering workforce has increasingly relied on H-1B pathways to gain experience in U.S. firms. Bloomberg data cited by Reuters shows that Pakistan received approximately 0.8% of all H-1B visa approvals between 2020 and 2023. At first glance, this percentage may appear modest. However, it translates into thousands of skilled professionals entering the U.S. workforce. Many of them are employed in software development, data science, and healthcare. These are sectors where American companies frequently face talent shortages. As a result, Pakistani workers have played a crucial role in filling these gaps.
The new fee structure, which would cost $100,000 per year for each of the three years of visa duration, introduces a prohibitive financial barrier. Nearly all visa fees must be paid by employers. Consequently, mid-sized firms and startups may hesitate to sponsor new candidates or renew existing contracts, forcing many professionals to return home prematurely.
South Asia’s Role in U.S. Immigration Policy
India remains the largest beneficiary of H-1B visas, accounting for approximately 73.7% of approvals in recent years, followed by China at 16%. In fiscal year 2025, the U.S. issued 188,400 H-1B visas—a 12.5% increase from the previous year. Amazon and its cloud unit AWS received approval for more than 12,000 H-1B visas in the first half of 2025, while Microsoft and Meta each secured over 5,000 approvals. These figures underscore how deeply embedded South Asian talent is in the U.S. tech infrastructure.
However, the proposed fee could add millions in costs for companies. While large firms may absorb the impact, smaller employers and startups—especially those hiring from Pakistan—may shift operations overseas or freeze hiring altogether.
Skilled Worker Visas and Innovation Risk
Critics argue that the fee creates a disincentive to attract the world’s smartest talent. Deedy Das, partner at Menlo Ventures, warned that if the U.S. stops attracting top minds, it will lose its ability to innovate and grow. Jeremy Goldman, an analyst at eMarketer, added that while Washington may collect a short-term windfall, it risks taxing away its long-term innovation edge.
Conclusion: H-1B Visa Policy and Pakistan’s Future
The H-1B visa policy threatens more than just individual careers—it risks severing the bridge between Pakistani talent and global opportunity. For the U.S., it may trade competitiveness for protectionism. And for South Asia, it signals a narrowing of pathways that once promised merit-based mobility.
