The H-1B visa controversy has affected a vast number of employees in big tech firms and social media is buzzing with affected people crying foul. A recent social media post by a former Meta employee has reignited a debate surrounding the H-1B visa program and its impact on the US tech job market. The post, which went viral, claims that a huge majority of his team at Meta in 2017 were H-1B visa holders.
Zach Wilson, a data engineer who worked at Meta, wrote on his post on X that 15 of the 17 members on his former core growth data engineering team were on H-1B visas. This made him one of only two Americans on the team. He linked his experience to the recent proposal for a one-time $100,000 fee on H-1B visas, suggesting that such a policy could be a “blessing” for American tech workers.
“More than 80 percent of your competition literally just vanished overnight,” Wilson wrote. He urged fellow American workers to capitalise on the opportunity.
Ex-Meta employee H-1B post goes viral
Soon after, his post has drawn a firestorm of reactions, particularly from Indian tech professionals who are the largest beneficiaries of the H-1B program. Critics argue that Wilson’s post overlooks the fundamental issue of talent.
Nitin Ahirwal, an Indian engineer, said that Meta’s growth was built on talent, not nationality. He contended that the high number of H-1B engineers on the team pointed to a gap in the US talent pipeline, stating that “US schools are producing users of tech, not builders.”
Another user, Rushikesh Patil, followed this sentiment, arguing that “Removing visas doesn’t replace the gap, it just exposes it.”
Many others have shared similar experiences, highlighting that companies often turn to international talent to fill specialised roles when there is a domestic shortage.
H-1B visa fee creates more controversy
The proposed H-1B visa fee, which sees a notable increase from the current $2,000 to $5,000, has raised concerns about crippling companies that depend heavily on the program. While the White House has clarified that the $100,000 fee is a one-time charge for new petitions and not an annual fee, the order has still sent shockwaves through the entire tech community.
