The retail giant’s decision highlights growing uncertainty over U.S. immigration policy and its impact on global talent
Walmart Inc. has paused extending job offers to candidates who require H-1B visas, according to people familiar with the matter, a move that underscores the growing fallout from the Trump administration’s aggressive overhaul of the U.S. work visa system.
The policy shift comes weeks after the administration imposed a $100,000 fee on all new H-1B applications, a sweeping measure aimed at curbing what it called the “overuse” of the program. The decision has sparked alarm among major employers, tech companies, and immigrant workers who depend on the visa to live and work in the U.S.
What Walmart’s move means
The hiring pause primarily affects Walmart’s corporate workforce, sources told Bloomberg. The Arkansas-based retailer, America’s largest employer, is the biggest user of H-1B visas among major retail chains, with an estimated 2,390 visa holders on staff, according to U.S. government data.
That figure, however, represents only a fraction of its 1.6 million U.S. employees, most of whom work in stores, warehouses, and distribution centers.
In a statement, a Walmart spokesperson said the company remains committed to attracting top talent but is reassessing its approach:
“Walmart is committed to hiring and investing in the best talent to serve our customers, while remaining thoughtful about our H-1B hiring approach.”
The company’s decision puts it alongside a growing list of U.S. firms rethinking recruitment strategies amid the new visa costs, which employers say could make international hiring financially unfeasible.
The $100,000 H-1B fee: What changed and why
Last month, the Trump administration unveiled one of the most drastic immigration policy changes in decades: a mandatory $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa applications.
The White House said the rule was a “necessary reform” to ensure that the program benefits U.S. workers and deters overreliance on foreign labor. Officials described the fee as an “incremental step towards restoring fairness and integrity.”
Exemptions and confusion
Under the new guidelines, current visa holders changing status — such as international students shifting from F-1 student visas to H-1B — are exempt from the fee. However, employers hiring new foreign workers who are not already authorized to work in the U.S. must pay the full amount.
The policy has created widespread confusion among recruiters and workers. Many companies have put hiring plans on hold until the Department of Homeland Security issues further clarification.
Why business groups are pushing back
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has called the new rule “punitive and economically damaging,” warning that it could price out startups and small-to-medium-sized businesses that rely on skilled foreign labor to remain competitive.
“The new $100,000 visa fee will make it cost-prohibitive for U.S. employers, especially start-ups and small and midsize businesses, to utilize the H-1B program,” said Neil Bradley, Executive Vice President of the Chamber.
“The program was created by Congress expressly to ensure that American businesses of all sizes can access global talent.”
Earlier this month, the Chamber filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that the executive action exceeds its legal authority and threatens America’s long-term innovation pipeline.
The broader impact on the U.S. workforce
The H-1B visa, first introduced in 1990, allows U.S. companies to employ foreign professionals in specialized fields such as engineering, computer science, and healthcare.
Critics argue the system has been abused, displacing American workers with lower-paid foreign employees. But industry leaders maintain that the visas fill critical skill gaps, particularly in STEM fields where domestic labor shortages persist.
According to federal data, technology giants like Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta are among the largest H-1B employers. Walmart Inc.’s reliance on the program is smaller but still significant within the retail sector, especially for roles in logistics, IT, and global sourcing.
John Veitch, dean of the School of Business and Management at Notre Dame de Namur University, told Bloomberg that the new fee appears “arbitrary” and risks destabilizing smaller firms:
“People are looking at it, going, ‘Is this for real?’ The combination of immigration uncertainty and rapid AI-driven workforce changes could upend the employment landscape, especially for small- to mid-sized companies.”
Why it matters
The Biden-era rollback of certain immigration barriers had encouraged multinational hiring and tech investment in the U.S. Trump’s return to stricter policies now threatens to reverse that trend, just as employers face a shortage of skilled workers and increased competition from Canada and the U.K. — both of which have eased their visa processes for foreign professionals.
Walmart’s cautious pause could signal a larger corporate shift away from new H-1B sponsorships until policy clarity emerges. For many global job seekers, it’s another reminder that the path to working in the U.S. has become more expensive, more uncertain, and more political than ever.
TL;DR (Summary)
- Walmart has paused hiring candidates needing H-1B visas amid Trump’s $100,000 visa fee rule.
- The change impacts mainly corporate employees at the retailer.
- Business groups warn the fee will deter hiring and hurt smaller firms.
- The White House defends the move as part of reforms to “protect American workers.”
- The change adds to growing confusion over the future of U.S. immigration and talent mobility.
