Walmart Inc. has paused making job offers to candidates requiring H-1B visa sponsorship, following sweeping changes introduced by the U.S. government that dramatically raise visa application costs, according to a Bloomberg report.
The decision comes in response to a new $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications imposed by the Trump administration in September.
The measure, part of a broader overhaul aimed at tightening the program, is designed to discourage what the administration describes as overuse of foreign skilled workers.
The change has reverberated across technology, retail, and consulting industries that depend heavily on such visas.
Walmart is among the largest users of H-1B visas in the U.S. retail sector, employing around 2,390 H-1B holders out of its total workforce of about 1.6 million.
While that represents a small portion of its overall headcount, it underscores the company’s reliance on global talent in specialized corporate and technology roles.
A Walmart spokeswoman said the retailer remains “committed to hiring and investing in the best talent to serve our customers, while remaining thoughtful about our H-1B hiring approach.”
The new visa fee policy has drawn sharp criticism from industry groups and legal experts. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the $100,000 fee, calling it a “cost-prohibitive barrier” for employers, particularly start-ups and mid-sized businesses.
The Chamber argued that the rule undermines the purpose of the H-1B program, which was created by Congress in 1990 to allow American firms to access skilled foreign professionals when domestic shortages exist.
According to guidance from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the fee applies to new H-1B applications filed after September 21, 2025, but exempts current visa holders changing employers or status within the U.S.
Despite these clarifications, companies across sectors continue to express uncertainty about implementation timelines and compliance requirements.
Economists and education experts have cautioned that the new fee could significantly reduce the number of skilled foreign workers entering the U.S., particularly in STEM fields.
Universities and hospitals, which also rely on H-1B visas to recruit researchers and lecturers, have warned that the cost increase could strain their hiring pipelines.
Walmart’s decision adds to growing signs that the policy shift is reshaping corporate hiring practices across industries.
As reported by Bloomberg, the company’s pause illustrates how even major employers are reassessing recruitment strategies amid escalating visa costs and regulatory unpredictability.
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