Washington: NVIDIA is sending a strong message to the world: it values talent over bureaucracy. Even after the U.S. government introduced a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa applications, the company says it will continue sponsoring skilled foreign workers and it will cover the entire cost itself.

CEO Jensen Huang stressed that immigration is not just a policy issue it’s a lifeline for innovation. “Without global talent, the progress we’ve made in AI and semiconductors simply wouldn’t be possible,” Huang told employees, underlining how crucial skilled international workers are to NVIDIA’s success.

The new rule, effective September 21, has stirred concern across the tech world. While it doesn’t affect renewals or extensions filed before the deadline, the hefty fee could make hiring new international talent much harder especially for smaller companies that can’t easily absorb such costs.

The policy has already sparked legal challenges. A coalition of employers and advocacy groups has filed a lawsuit, arguing that the fee oversteps presidential authority and should be blocked. Meanwhile, other countries, including China and Canada, are opening doors to skilled professionals, creating more competition for global talent.

For NVIDIA, however, the decision is clear: innovation depends on people, not paperwork. Huang emphasized that the breakthroughs shaping the future from AI to high-performance computing are the result of contributions from engineers around the world. The company’s commitment sends a hopeful message: in a time of tightening borders, talent and collaboration remain priceless.