H-1B Visa Holders Who Shaped US Tech Giants
The United States introduced the H-1B visa in 1990 to employ foreign workers in specialized occupations, facilitating the 'American Dream' for many immigrants. As of September 21, the US has implemented a significant one-time fee of $100,000 for new H-1B applicants, raising concerns among skilled professionals globally.
Historically, the visa has enabled numerous prominent figures in technology and business to establish themselves in the US. Notable H-1B visa holders include Satya Nadella, Elon Musk, and Rajiv Jain, among others.
Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, transitioned to an H-1B visa in 1994 after facing challenges in bringing his wife to the US. Under his leadership, Microsoft has become a global leader in cloud computing, AI, and enterprise software. Nadella has frequently highlighted the role of immigrant talent in driving innovation at Microsoft.
Elon Musk, CEO of X Corp, Tesla, and SpaceX, initially came to the US on a J-1 exchange visitor visa before switching to an H-1B for academic training. Musk has criticized restrictions on H-1B visas, arguing they limit access to top global talent and hinder American innovation.
Rajiv Jain, Chairman of GQG Partners, obtained an H-1B visa after moving to the US in the 1990s. He co-founded GQG Partners in 2016, managing over $150 billion in assets, and advocates for leveraging global talent to grow financial and technology sectors.
The new H-1B fee is expected to disproportionately affect skilled Indian professionals, as Indians constitute approximately 71% of all approved H-1B applications in recent years. While current visa holders and renewals are unaffected, the measure has sparked debate about the US's approach to attracting global talent and its potential impact on innovation and technology sectors.
Experts warn that imposing high barriers could drive highly skilled talent away from the US, potentially slowing innovation in fields such as AI, cloud computing, and biotechnology, where companies like Microsoft, Zoom, and Tesla have leveraged global expertise to compete globally.