"Great Solution": Netflix Co-Founder Praises Trump's H-1B Visa Fee Hike

Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings has expressed support for President Donald Trump's controversial proposal to impose a $100,000 fee on employers hiring foreign workers through the H-1B visa program. Hastings described the plan as "a great solution" in his recent statement.

Hastings, who has been involved in H-1B policy discussions for three decades, shared his views on social media platform X, stating: "I've worked on H1-B politics for 30 years. Trump's $100k per year tax is a great solution." He explained that this substantial fee would ensure H-1B visas would be utilized exclusively for high-value positions, eliminating the need for a lottery system and providing more certainty for those specific jobs.

The endorsement from Hastings came as a surprise to many observers, as he has previously been critical of Trump, once stating that "The President would destroy much of what is great about America," according to Fortune magazine.

Currently, the United States issues 85,000 new H-1B visas annually, with demand significantly exceeding availability in recent years. This imbalance has necessitated a random lottery system that sometimes results in highly qualified applicants being rejected.

By implementing the increased H-1B visa fee, the administration aims to encourage companies to prioritize American workers while reserving foreign hiring for exceptionally skilled individuals. The primary objective of this policy is to safeguard American employment opportunities.

Raghav Gupta, Founder and CEO of Futurense, suggested that this fee increase might prompt many Indian students to reconsider their plans and possibly choose other countries or remain in India.

Dr. Pavitar Parkash Singh, Professor and Senior Dean at Lovely Professional University, noted that while the higher H-1B visa fees might limit America's access to talented Indian professionals, India could potentially benefit by retaining this skilled workforce.

There was initial confusion regarding the implementation of the fee, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggesting it might be an annual charge. However, the White House later clarified that it would be a one-time payment applicable only to new applicants, not affecting current visa holders.