Most foreign founders keep US expansion plans despite visa fee proposals
A survey of 307 founders shows access to American buyers outweighs rising immigration barriers.
International founders are maintaining their push into the United States even as visa hurdles increase, with 82% of survey participants reporting no change to their expansion roadmaps [1].
Among 307 founders polled, 85% identified reaching American buyers as the central incentive for establishing operations in the country [1]. The commercial draw remains strong even after the Trump administration floated a $103,265 annual fee on new H-1B visas [1].
At the same time, movement back to domestic hubs is visible across technical roles. During the initial nine months of 2026, 12,700 white-collar technology specialists relocated to India from the US [1]. However, Beyond Border noted that "tighter US immigration policy alone will not bring talent back" [1]. For startup leaders, immediate exposure to the US consumer and enterprise software base continues to outweigh regulatory friction [1].
Questions and answers
How many founders are maintaining their plans to expand into the US?
According to survey findings, 82% of respondents have kept their US expansion strategies unchanged despite immigration policy headwinds [1].
What is driving founders to enter the American market?
Access to US clients is the primary motivation, cited by 85% of the 307 founders surveyed [1].
Sources
- 1.Visa fees are soaring, but founders want US revenue more than US investors — e27, Oct 29, 2026