November 2, 2025

Big news for anyone watching the tech world! Jodi Shelton, CEO of the Global Semiconductor Alliance (GSA), didn’t hold back when US President Donald Trump announced a whopping $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa petitions. Called “a slap in the face” by Shelton, this move is shaking the $662 billion semiconductor industry in the US. GSA represents 300 big companies, including over 120 public semiconductor makers or tech firms. They cover about 84% of the entire sector! Shelton said, "We want semiconductors in the US, but we don't have the talent. The Trump administration would like to see more STEM (science, technology, engineering, medicine) agendas for US citizens. That's a nice lofty goal but it hasn't happened yet. We're extremely dependent." That’s a bold admission: half of all US semiconductor companies are run by foreign-born CEOs! Jodi explained that starting STEM schools and programmes is great but not a quick fix. "We better figure out how to be an attractive place for people from India, China, or wherever to come and study. Once they come and study, then you'd want to keep them and make them a part of the industry in the US," she added. But what about this new fee? For big, rich companies, Shelton thinks they might see the $100,000 like a sign-on bonus and manage to keep workers longer. Smaller companies, however, may struggle to pay this big fee at all. On a brighter note, GSA isn’t just complaining. On Friday, it joined hands with the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) to speed up India’s role in the global semiconductor game. This partnership aims to use India's growing talent pool, new factories, and strong policies to attract fabless companies and innovators to work together in India. Together, GSA and ICEA plan to boost cross-border teamwork, diversify supply chains, and make India a shining star in the semiconductor world. So, while the US faces hurdles with its pricey new visa fee, sparks of hope flash from India’s tech rise and this new powerful alliance!

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Tags: H-1B Fee, Global Semiconductor Alliance, Semiconductor industry, Trump administration, India Semiconductor, Stem Talent,