From Musk to Nadella to Pichai, The Prominent Personalities Who Benefited From The Program

A storm has erupted in the tech world after US President Donald Trump announced a steep increase in H-1B visa application fees - shooting up from $10,000 to $100,000. The decision has rattled companies and aspiring professionals alike, raising new questions about the future of skilled immigration in America.

The H-1B program, created in 1990, was designed to allow US employers to hire highly skilled foreign workers in areas like technology, engineering, and medicine. Over the years, it became a launchpad for global talent - and some of today's most iconic business leaders once held the very visa that is now at the center of controversy.

Elon Musk, for instance, relied on the H-1B in the 1990s after moving from South Africa. He has often acknowledged how the program gave him the opportunity to innovate in the US - ultimately leading to the rise of Tesla and SpaceX.

Similarly, Satya Nadella, who joined Microsoft on an H-1B in 1994, went on to become CEO and transformed the company into a global leader in cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

Another name on that list is Sundar Pichai, who began at Google with the help of an H-1B visa before rising to lead Alphabet, the parent company of Google. His story remains a powerful example of how the program has shaped American tech leadership.

And they're not alone. Leaders like Arvind Krishna (IBM CEO), Indra Nooyi (former PepsiCo CEO), and Shantanu Narayen (Adobe CEO) have also walked the H-1B path, each redefining their industries.

While the new $100,000 fee has triggered panic - particularly among smaller firms that may not be able to afford it - there could be a silver lining. Experts believe it may improve prospects for laid-off tech workers already in the US, who are currently scrambling for jobs after mass layoffs in the sector. In 2025 alone, more than 144,000 tech professionals were let go, according to tracker Trueup.

Importantly, the new fee applies only to fresh applications. Workers already in the US - whether switching jobs, renewing visas, or returning - are exempt. For now, this means the upcoming 2026 H-1B lottery could see fewer applicants, boosting chances for highly skilled candidates.

Still, optimism is tempered with caution. Recruiters warn that hiring depends on skill sets and that persistent uncertainty around immigration policy could make companies hesitate before committing to sponsorships.

What remains clear is that the debate over the H-1B visa has once again moved center stage - raising questions about whether the US can continue to attract and retain the world's brightest minds, or whether steep fees will push talent to seek opportunities elsewhere.