Policy shifts and fee proposals push foreign graduates away from US

The short version

• Foreign graduates and skilled workers are departing the US for other countries after facing visa obstacles and proposed fee increases.[Business Insider]
• The administration proposed a $103,265 fee for most new H-1B petitions in August following earlier legal battles over visa costs.[Business Insider]
• Data reveals declining international student applications at nearly 60% of US universities and rising departure rates for foreign physics PhDs.[Business Insider]
• The broader workforce impact remains uncertain as courts review proposed fee rules and annual visa caps persist.[Business Insider]

Key facts

• In August, the administration proposed a $103,265 fee for most new H-1B petitions after a federal judge previously struck down an earlier fee in June.[Business Insider]
• The United States allocates 85,000 new H-1B visas annually, receiving nearly 344,000 eligible registrations for fiscal year 2026.[Business Insider]
• According to the American Institute of Physics, the proportion of non-American physics PhDs leaving the US after graduating rose from 16% in 2023-24 to 29% in 2024-25.[Business Insider]
• Nearly 60% of US universities documented drops in international student applications for the 2025-26 academic year, based on an Institute of International Education report.[Business Insider]
• According to the National Science Foundation, foreign-born individuals made up 22% of the US STEM workforce in 2024.[Business Insider]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• They planned their futures around America. Now they're putting down roots elsewhere.Business Insider metered