Openai/694ec3f1-2e78-800f-acdf-d2d7a59cba6a

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gpt-5-2

User: Most H1Bs are L1 or other visa trying to transfer not people from outside so the 100k won’t have big impact.- is this s…

Most H1Bs are L1 or other visa trying to transfer not people from outside so the 100k won’t have big impact.- is this statement true?

Assistant: The statement is largely incorrect or at best misleading.

The statement is largely incorrect or at best misleading.

Why:

1. Most H-1B approvals are not transfers from L-1 or other visas. - While a significant share of H-1B filings are change-of-status or transfers (including L-1, F-1 OPT, H-4, etc.), a very large portion still represents new labor market entrants—especially: - F-1 students moving to H-1B (cap-subject) - Workers abroad hired directly by U.S. employers - USCIS data consistently shows cap-subject H-1Bs (the 65k + 20k) are heavily used for new hires, not just internal transfers.
2. L-1 → H-1B is not the dominant pathway. - L-1 workers are a minority of H-1B applicants. - The largest feeder category is actually F-1 OPT students, not L-1s.
3. A $100k minimum salary would still have a major impact. - Many cap-subject H-1B roles (especially entry-level tech, analysts, QA, junior engineers, business roles) are below $100k, even in major metros. - This would: - Eliminate most entry-level hiring - Heavily affect consulting firms and staffing models - Reduce employer willingness to sponsor new graduates - Transfers don’t avoid this impact because the salary requirement would still apply.
4. Transfers don’t mean “no impact.” - Even if someone is already in the U.S., a higher wage floor: - Forces renegotiation or termination - Limits role mobility - Concentrates visas in large firms only

Bottom line: ❌ The claim that “most H-1Bs are L-1 or other visa transfers, so a $100k rule won’t have much impact” is not true. ✅ A $100k threshold would significantly reduce H-1B usage, especially for new hires and early-career roles, regardless of transfer status.