Adding a $100,000 fee for H-1B visas would have big consequences across immigration, labor markets, and business strategy. Smaller employers would almost entirely stop filing along with outsourcing firms. Even large tech companies could sharply reduce numbers, using visas only for extremely scarce roles.

This type of visa is a work permit that allows employers to hire foreign professionals in specialty occupations — think tech, engineering, or medicine — that require specialized knowledge and at least a bachelor’s degree.

The US issues about 85,000 new H-1B visas per year so at most this would raise $8.5 billion but would deprive tech companies — Nvidia alone is worth $4 trillion — of some of their best workers.