Biden Administration Pushes for High‑Caliber Foreign Workers

Oct. 8, Washington – Vice President JD Vance reiterated that the United States remains open to foreign professionals possessing extraordinary abilities, but the H‑1B visa framework must not become a vehicle for wage suppression. Speaking at a press conference on visa fraud, Vance said the goal is to attract talent that can’t be sourced domestically, not to import lower‑paid workers.

He described a two‑step assessment for potential hires: first, confirm that the role is genuinely unfilled by Americans; second, verify that the applicant brings a level of expertise that is rare or unparalleled. Vance referenced Elon Musk’s early U.S. education and AMD leader Lisa Su as case studies of how elite talent fuels economic growth.

The vice president defended the recent hike in H‑1B filing fees, insisting that higher costs will discourage companies from using the program merely to cut payroll expenses. Instead, the policy aims to ensure that firms seeking “genius‑level” specialists are ready to invest appropriately, preserving the integrity of the visa system and protecting U.S. workers.