For decades, the answer was obvious. If you were a skilled professional looking to build a global career, the US was the default choice. Silicon Valley, Wall Street, Boston’s biotech corridor and so many other lucrative avenues to pursue.
But a string of policy changes over the past year has started to chip away at that certainty. H-1B costs have exploded (though that might change soon), entrepreneur pathways remain shaky, and rival countries are rolling out the red carpet. So where does that leave the US?
Keep reading to find out what’s changed, where talent is heading instead, and what it means for employers and professionals planning their next move.
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SubscribeThe H-1B Fee Shock and What It Means for Employers
In September 2025, a Presidential Proclamation introduced a $100,000 supplemental fee (though it looks to be on shaky ground) on certain new H-1B petitions, specifically those filed for workers outside the US who don’t already hold a valid H-1B visa. That’s on top of existing USCIS filing fees and legal costs. For a company sponsoring multiple overseas hires, the bill adds up fast.
For large multinationals, it’s a painful but absorbable hit. For startups and mid-sized firms, it’s a different story. Many have paused H-1B sponsorship altogether while legal challenges play out. The US Chamber of Commerce, a coalition of unions and employers, and twenty US states have all filed separate lawsuits.
A D.C. district court upheld the fee in December 2025, but the case is now on appeal, and a Supreme Court ruling on executive authority over tariffs has given challengers fresh momentum. The legal picture remains uncertain in mid-2026.
Where Are Those Candidates Going?
The US Is Still the Default, but It’s Getting Harder
The US remains the single largest destination for high-skilled immigration. Its deep talent pool, access to venture capital and sheer market size still make it the first place most professionals consider. But rising costs and an unpredictable policy environment are forcing candidates to think twice, and many are now applying to multiple countries at once.
In addition, expats are now more informed than ever. A professional weighing up a move to the US might browse Reddit threads, speak to an immigration lawyer, run their details through a US visa assessment tool or simply ask around in their network. The information is there, but it doesn’t always point towards the US.
The UK Is Still a Strong Candidate for Foreign Workers
The UK’s Global Talent visa has become a serious draw for tech workers, researchers, and founders. The visa application itself costs £766, requires no employer sponsorship, and lets holders work for any company or start their own business.
Holders endorsed in science, engineering, medicine or humanities can apply for settlement after three years regardless of whether they’re classed as exceptional talent or exceptional promise. In digital technology and arts, exceptional talent holders can also settle after three years, while exceptional promise holders face a five-year qualifying period.
UAE Keeps Gaining Steam
The UAE continues to attract entrepreneurs and executives with its Golden Visa programme, zero personal income tax, and fast setup. Dubai has positioned itself as a hub for fintech and AI talent leaving more expensive or restrictive markets. However, the UAE introduced a 9% corporate tax on profits above AED 375,000 in 2023, and the Golden Visa doesn’t lead to citizenship.
Canada Might Be a Good US Alternative
Canada still runs its Express Entry system, which scores applicants on skills, language ability, and work experience. While a job offer isn’t required to enter the pool, having one boosts your score significantly. For 2026, Canada has also raised the minimum work experience requirement for its category-based selection streams from six months to one year.
And across Europe, countries like Portugal, the Netherlands, and Germany continue to expand startup and skilled worker visas with lower thresholds and quicker processing.
The Entrepreneur Parole Problem
The US has never had a dedicated startup visa. The closest thing is the International Entrepreneur Rule, first published in 2017 under the Obama administration. The Trump administration initially tried to block it, but a court ruling forced the government to begin accepting applications in 2018. The programme grants temporary parole for up to 2.5 years, with a possible 2.5-year extension, for a maximum of five years. It’s not a visa and it’s not a green card.
In practice, take-up has been tiny, averaging just 19 applications per year. The parole is discretionary, can be revoked at any time, and doesn’t offer a direct path to permanent residence. For a founder weighing the risk of relocating a family and a business, that’s a tough sell.
Compare that with the UK’s Innovator Founder visa, which offers a route to settlement in as few as three years, or the UAE’s entrepreneur-focused Golden Visa, which grants five- or ten-year renewable residency. The US has the market, the capital, and the customers, but its immigration framework for founders hasn’t kept pace.
Where This Leaves Multinational Employers
The US still attracts more high-skilled immigrants than any other single country. But the gap is narrowing, and the cost equation has shifted. If it costs $100,000 extra per head to hire someone from overseas into a US office, the same role in London or Amsterdam starts to look far more attractive.
The US Isn’t Losing, but It’s No Longer Winning by Default
The US isn’t about to lose its position overnight. Deep capital markets, a massive consumer economy, and world-class universities still make it enormously attractive. But the policy direction of the past year has made it harder and more expensive for global talent to get in.
Countries like the UK, the UAE, and Canada are doing more than ever to attract the people the US is making it difficult to welcome. For business leaders, a global talent strategy can no longer default to a single destination.
