Walmart Freezes H-1B Visa Hiring Amid $100,000 Application Fee: What It Means for Employers and Workers

Walmart, the largest private employer in the United States, has temporarily halted hiring candidates who require H-1B visas in response to a new $100,000 application fee introduced by the Trump administration. The executive order, signed in September 2025, imposes the fee on new H-1B visa applications, significantly raising the cost for employers seeking to hire skilled foreign workers. The administration has justified the move as a necessary measure to prevent abuse of the visa program and protect American jobs, arguing that it encourages companies to prioritize domestic talent. In a statement reported by Bloomberg and the BBC, a Walmart spokesperson said the company remains committed to hiring the best talent but is being “thoughtful” about its approach to H-1B hiring. Who’s Impacted by Walmart’s H-1B Hiring Pause?The pause primarily affects corporate positions, which often rely on specialized skills in technology, data, and business analytics. Walmart had more than 2,000 H-1B visas approved in the first half of 2025 alone, making it the top user of the visa program in the retail sector. While that number is relatively small compared to Walmart’s total US workforce of 1.6 million, the decision reflects a broader uncertainty among employers navigating the new cost burden.The H-1B visa program, which allows US employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations, has traditionally been associated with the tech sector. Companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Google, and Apple continue to be among the largest sponsors of H-1B visas. Amazon alone had over 10,000 H-1B approvals in the first half of 2025, while each of the other major tech firms secured more than 4,000 visas during the same period. Many startups and smaller firms also rely on the program to fill high-demand roles in engineering, data science, and biotechnology.The impact of the new fee is likely to be felt most strongly by foreign professionals, particularly from India, which accounts for more than 70% of H-1B recipients annually. China follows as the second-largest source, with around 12% of recipients. For these workers, the fee could make it more difficult to secure jobs in the US, as employers reassess whether to absorb the added cost.Related News | H-1B Reform Explained: Who Will Pay the $100,000 Fee Under Trump's New Order? US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick emphasized the tough choices employers now face, stating that companies must decide whether a worker is valuable enough to justify a $100,000 payment to the government, or whether to hire domestically.The debate over the H-1B system is not new. Critics argue the program displaces American workers and suppresses wages, while proponents, including tech leaders like Elon Musk, contend that it helps the US attract global talent and stay ahead in innovation. Walmart’s decision to freeze H-1B hiring could serve as a signal to other large employers, especially those outside the tech sector, that the rising cost of global recruitment may no longer be justifiable under the new rules.