Since returning to office in January 2025, President Donald Trump has launched a sweeping immigration crackdown, with the H-1B visa program squarely in focus. Most notably, his administration raised the H-1B application fee to $100,000, a dramatic increase for the temporary work visa that has been a gateway for global talent since its creation in 1990.
While the reforms have drawn sharp criticism from the tech industry, it’s worth noting that several of today’s most influential business leaders began their American journeys with the help of the H-1B visa. Here’s a look at five such figures.
1. Elon Musk – CEO of Tesla & SpaceX
Elon Musk, the world’s richest individual, has long been a vocal supporter of the H-1B program. Born in South Africa, Musk arrived in the U.S. in 1992 to study at the University of Pennsylvania. After a brief stint at Stanford, he launched his entrepreneurial career in Silicon Valley.
Though details of his earliest visa status remain partly unclear, Musk has openly credited the H-1B program for enabling him—and many of the engineers behind SpaceX and Tesla—to build world-changing companies.
2. Satya Nadella – Chairman & CEO of Microsoft
Satya Nadella, born in Hyderabad, India, came to the U.S. in 1990. Though he initially held a green card, he gave it up to secure an H-1B visa to support his wife’s immigration.
In interviews, Nadella has reflected on this trade-off as “silly,” calling for reforms that balance security with competitiveness. He has consistently emphasized that the H-1B program is essential for attracting high-skilled talent that drives U.S. innovation, particularly in technology.
3. Eric Yuan – Founder & CEO of Zoom
Eric Yuan’s path to Silicon Valley success wasn’t easy. The Chinese-born entrepreneur applied nine times before finally receiving his H-1B visa in 1997, sponsored by Webex (later acquired by Cisco).
His perseverance paid off. In 2011, Yuan founded Zoom, a platform that redefined virtual communication worldwide. While he has spoken sparingly about the H-1B program itself, he has praised America’s openness to talent as critical to his journey.
4. Jeffrey Skoll – First President of eBay
Canadian-born Jeffrey Skoll, eBay’s first president and now chairman of Capricorn Investment Group, received his H-1B visa in 1996 after graduating from Stanford.
Working alongside Pierre Omidyar, he helped build eBay from a startup into a global marketplace. Skoll has described securing the visa as a “life-and-death fight,” despite his elite education and experience. Today, he advocates for targeted reforms to ensure fairness while preserving the program’s core value.
5. Jayshree Ullal – CEO of Arista Networks
Jayshree Ullal, born in the UK and raised in New Delhi, moved to the U.S. at 16 to pursue higher education. She went on to earn a master’s degree from Santa Clara University before beginning her career in tech.
During her early years at Fairchild Semiconductor, AMD, and Cisco, Ullal held an H-1B visa—a stepping stone that later led her to the helm of Arista Networks, where she became one of Silicon Valley’s most respected leaders.
Conclusion
The H-1B visa has been central to the success stories of some of the world’s most prominent innovators. While Trump’s recent overhaul—including the unprecedented $100,000 application fee—has sparked debate, the program’s history shows its undeniable role in fueling American innovation, competitiveness, and global leadership in technology.
