Chinese techie decides to quit USD180k Amazon job, plans to leave US amid H-1B visa fee hike

The Chinese engineer shared a video on Instagram where he said only 18 months are left for his OPT work permit.

He said he is not feeling worried despite only one of his H-1B visa lottery attempts remaining, since he has decided to quit his job and take on the path of entrepreneurship.

He said the uncertainty over his visa status has caused him tremendous stress over the years.

In his Instagram page, he wrote: "After 3 years of immigration anxiety, I'm planning to quit my USD180k Amazon job and leave America for remote entrepreneurship. Why wait for broken visa policies when you can build a global business?"

"The new American dream: earn US salary while living anywhere. Starting a US company remotely, enjoying better healthcare abroad, lower living costs, and actual freedom," he said.

The White House on Saturday issued a major clarification that the newly announced $100,000 H-1B visa fee will be a 'one-time' payment that will be imposed on new applicants only.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued the clarification and wrote on X: "This is NOT an annual fee. It’s a one-time fee that applies only to the petition."

She further said: "Those who already hold H-1B visas and are currently outside of the country right now will NOT be charged $100,000 to re-enter."

In her clarification, she further said: "H-1B visa holders can leave and re-enter the country to the same extent as they normally would; whatever ability they have to do that is not impacted by yesterday’s proclamation."

She said the rule will only apply to new applicants and not in the case of renewals or current visa holders.

"It will first apply in the next upcoming lottery cycle," she said.

US President Donald Trump has signed a petition that will impose $100,000 application fee for H-1B visas.

The announcement sparked a strong reaction from the tech world, with a large number of Indian professionals applying for it every year.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) further clarified that the new rule will not apply to petitions filed before September 21.