H-1B Visa Fee Hike Effect: Under the new US visa policy, Walmart has dealt a major blow to professionals considering entering the US. The company has currently stopped offering jobs to candidates who require H-1B visas.
News agency Bloomberg reported this information quoting sources. Walmart, known for its “Everyday Low Prices,” has taken this decision at a time when US President Donald Trump recently increased the fee for new H-1B visas to $100,000 annually. This policy has affected hiring plans in many industries. A Walmart spokesperson told news agency Bloomberg that the company is always ready to hire the best candidates and is also vigilant regarding H-1B visa recruitment.
How many employees are working on H-1B Visa in Walmart?
Walmart has currently suspended job offers for H-1B visas. However, this is unlikely to have a significant impact on Walmart. This is because the number of employees working on H-1B visas is small compared to the total number of employees in Walmart. It has around 1.6 million employees in America and according to government data, around 2390 employees are working on H-1B visas. Although it is the largest user of this visa among large retail chains, it still uses this visa less than tech companies like Amazon, Microsoft and Meta.
What is the US H-1B visa policy?
Last month on September 20, US President Donald Trump had announced an increase in the application fee for H-1B visas to $100,000 from September 21, 2025. However, now the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has clarified that the new $100,000 fee for ‘change of status’ for H-1B visas, or approximately ₹88 lakh, will not be applicable to existing visa holders. USCIS clarified that individuals already residing in the US on valid visas such as F-1 (student visa) or L-1 (professional visa) will not have to pay this new fee while applying for H-1B status. This exemption also applies to existing H-1B visa holders who wish to renew or extend their visas.
