By Kavita Mistry 
Walmart has decided to pause hiring job candidates requiring H-1B visas to work in the U.S., reflecting how the Trump administration’s immigration policies are influencing corporate strategies. The decision follows the administration’s September announcement of steep new fees for H-1B visas, which allow companies to temporarily employ skilled foreign workers, often from countries like India and China. Under the new rules, companies must pay $100,000 per new H-1B application, a move the administration says is meant to protect American jobs and curb visa abuse.
H-1B Visas, Walmart’s Corporate Workforce, and Impact of Fee Hike
A Walmart spokesperson emphasized that the company remains committed to hiring the best talent while being thoughtful about its H-1B approach, and exceptions to the hiring pause may still occur in specific cases. H-1B visas, created by Congress in 1990, are widely used for STEM roles when qualified U.S. candidates are unavailable. The program has an annual cap of 65,000 visas, with an additional 20,000 reserved for individuals with advanced degrees from U.S. institutions. If applications exceed the cap, a lottery system is used.
The Trump administration’s higher fee aims to dissuade companies from hiring foreign workers over Americans, supporting broader policies that encourage firms to invest domestically and prioritize U.S.-born employees. Walmart, the country’s largest private employer with approximately 1.6 million employees, uses H-1B visas mainly for its corporate workforce, including headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, and offices in cities like the San Francisco Bay Area. As of June 30, Walmart employed 2,390 H-1B workers, ranking ninth among U.S. employers, behind Microsoft and Meta.
Corporate Pushback and Legal Challenges to H-1B Fee Increase
The policy has faced corporate pushback. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit challenging the new visa fees, warning that the costs could make H-1B hiring prohibitively expensive, especially for startups and small-to-medium businesses. Critics argue the program is essential for U.S. companies to access global talent. Walmart’s decision to pause H-1B hiring was first reported by Bloomberg, highlighting the growing tension between government immigration policy and corporate workforce planning.
Summary:
Walmart is pausing H-1B hiring following the Trump administration’s $100,000 visa fee increase, affecting skilled foreign workers mainly in STEM roles. The policy aims to protect American jobs but faces corporate pushback, including a lawsuit from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, highlighting tensions between immigration rules and corporate workforce planning.