With the new executive order from President Trump imposing a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications, small business owners are facing uncertainty and financial strain. Software engineering manager Abhishek Singh, who has worked in the US for ten years on a H-1B visa, expressed concern for his startup's ability to shoulder the burden. Although the fee will apply only to future applicants for now, the implications are profound, especially for smaller companies that are integral to innovation. Karen Brady of Ryther, a nonprofit, echoed these sentiments, stating that her organization cannot afford such costs, especially given an ongoing workforce shortage that H-1B visas have helped mitigate. As large tech firms navigate these changes effortlessly, the smaller companies may struggle to survive, potentially leading to offshoring talent and a contraction of the US labor force, as experts warn that the new policies may counteract their intended objectives.