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1311 points mriguy | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0.407s | source
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stephen_cagle ◴[] No.45308942[source]
This straight 100k to the top is not a good way to implement this. It should be a percentage (say 50%, we can talk about what the number should actually be) of the total compensation that is being paid to the H1B. We should also just completely remove caps on H1B.

This allows companies that truly want extraordinary talent to pay a premium to acquire it with no red tape . It also makes it far less likely that they can significantly underpay foreign workers to work in the united states and undercut American employees (at a 50% surcharge, you would have to pay 2/3 the prevailing salary to break even (assuming all employees are the same)).

The 50% number is something I made up, I think we can have an honest discussion about what that number should realistically be (and it should probably be different for different industries). But my main point is it should simply be a percentage tax paid on top of all compensation for foreign employees. This is the correct way to balance domestic companies undercutting domestic labor, while allowing them to access genuinely extraordinary talent with no impedance.

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wonderwonder ◴[] No.45309000[source]
I disagree, why would they then not just hire the H1B at 50k and pay a 25K fee.

100k flat annual fee plus the new minimum 150k salary returns the H1B program to its original purpose of allowing US companies to hire truly exceptional foreign workers who have skills US workers do not. This allows companies to do just that and pay for it and at the same time protects the jobs and job prospects of US workers

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famerica ◴[] No.45310293[source]
> new minimum 150k salary

Where did you get this from? It is not in the EO passed today: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/09/rest...

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1. wonderwonder ◴[] No.45313716[source]
You're right it does not say it, I based my statement on what Lutnick said in the office. Looks like the 150k number is from a senate bill that has not passed yet

https://www.newsweek.com/h-1b-visa-change-proposal-2132484