Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Says Family Likely Couldn’t Afford US Immigration Under Trump-Era Visa Fees
WASHINGTON D.C. - Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has stated his family likely would not have been able to immigrate to the United States under recently proposed immigration policies implemented during the Donald Trump administration. The policies include a USD 100,000 fee per H-1B temporary work visa, granted to foreign professionals with specialized skills.
Huang, born in Taiwan and raised in Thailand, moved to the US with his sister at age nine, followed two years later by his parents. He currently has an estimated net worth of USD 164 billion (IDR 2,700 trillion).
“I don’t think my family will be able to pay the 100 thousand dollar fee, so the prospect for my family and for myself to come here may never happen,” Huang said in a CNBC interview, as reported by detikINET.
The proposed fee increase has sparked debate within the US technology industry, which relies heavily on foreign workers, notably from India and China. Data from US Citizenship and Immigration Services shows Amazon sponsors the most H-1B visas - over 10,000 in fiscal year 2025 – followed by Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Google, each with over 4,000 approvals.
Huang emphasized the importance of immigration to the American ideal. “Immigration is the foundation of the American dream. The idea that anyone can come to America and, through hard work and a little talent, build a better future for themselves,” he stated, adding his parents sought opportunities and a better life for their family in the US.
Nvidia currently sponsors approximately 1,400 work visas and Huang confirmed the company will continue to cover H-1B visa costs for its overseas employees, while hoping for future policy improvements.
Despite his personal circumstances, Huang expressed optimism that the changes would still allow the US to attract top global talent.
Other tech leaders have voiced support for the policy. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings called the new fee rules “a great solution,” stating they would focus H-1B visas on high-value employment, eliminate the lottery system, and provide visa holders with certainty. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman similarly stated, “We need to attract the brightest people to this country. Simplifying the process and providing financial incentives is the right step.”
(FYK / Fay)