'No Overhaul' To 'Broken System': Musk's Flip-Flop On H-1B Visa Resurfaces

Tesla CEO Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump.

Amid growing criticism of President Donald Trump's recent immigration system overhaul, former ally Elon Musk's contradictory statements on H-1B visas have recaptured public attention on social media platforms.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO, whose relationship with President Trump deteriorated earlier this year, has displayed notable inconsistency regarding the H-1B visa program. Initially, Musk defended the system that allowed him, a South African native, to live and work in the United States.

H-1B visas are specifically designated for individuals employed in specialized occupations, predominantly in the technology sector. These positions typically include software engineers, technology program managers, and various IT professionals. The visas remain valid for three years with a possible three-year extension.

President Trump recently implemented a dramatic change to the H-1B visa program, increasing the annual fee to $100,000 - a policy shift expected to significantly affect Indian professionals recruited by American technology companies and other sectors.

Previously, Musk advocated for "significant increase in legal migration" and even pledged to "go to war" to protect the H-1B visa program. He acknowledged the "critical people" who contributed to building his companies - Tesla and SpaceX - and numerous other American enterprises.

"The reason I'm in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B," Musk stated on his social platform X on December 28. He added emphatically, "Take a big step back and FUCK YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend."

Curiously, earlier that same day, Musk had expressed that there is "no question that the H1B system needs to be overhauled."

In a striking reversal the following day, the SpaceX founder described the H-1B visa program as "broken and needs major reform."

He suggested policy changes including "raising the minimum salary significantly and adding a yearly cost for maintaining the H1B, making it materially more expensive to hire from overseas than domestically."

When signing the proclamation at the White House on Friday, Trump emphasized that the "incentive is to hire American workers." The administration stated that these changes aim to protect American labor while ensuring companies can still recruit "truly extraordinary people" to the United States.

If the new policies withstand legal challenges, they will introduce substantial fee increases. The skilled worker visa fee would increase from $215 to $100,000. Investor visa fees, common in many European nations, would rise from $10,000-$20,000 annually.

The administration has also introduced a new Gold Card visa program, featuring Trump Gold Card and Trump Platinum Card for individuals, alongside Trump Corporate Gold Card for businesses. These cards offer exclusive privileges and are intended to replace employment-based visas that currently provide pathways to citizenship for professors, scientists, artists, and athletes.