Tech Execs Warn: Without Legal Immigrants, U.S. May Fall Behind

Tech leaders are sounding the alarm: Without access to global talent, the U.S. risks losing its edge in innovation.

A new survey by Manifest Law of over 500 tech executives reveals deep concern about the state of U.S. immigration policy—and its impact on the future of the tech sector. 

As the current administration revisits and reshapes immigration policy, many in tech worry that without meaningful improvements, the U.S. could fall behind in AI, entrepreneurship, and other key areas of growth.

Tech Leaders Say Global Talent Is Critical to U.S. Innovation

High-skilled immigrants play a vital role in keeping the U.S. tech sector globally competitive. In our survey, 93% of tech executives said international talent is important to their company’s future, with 35% calling it critically important.

Despite this, 74% said the immigration process needs to be simpler and more accessible, and 56% want to see the H-1B visa cap increased.

Leaders aren’t just focused on filling current roles—they’re thinking about long-term innovation. Immigrants have founded over half of the country’s billion-dollar startups, showing just how central legal immigration is to entrepreneurship, AI, and economic growth.

“We see firsthand how high-skilled legal immigrants drive innovation in the tech sector—from founding startups to leading cutting-edge projects,” says Nicole Gunara, Principal Immigration Lawyer at Manifest Law. “Ensuring they have a clear and timely path to contribute isn’t just good policy—it’s good business.”

AI Talent Shortage Highlights Urgent Need for Smarter Immigration

As demand for AI expertise accelerates, tech leaders see legal immigration as a competitive advantage, not a threat. In our survey, a shortage of AI talent ranked as the second most impactful challenge, just behind global competition for skilled workers.  

Many executives believe U.S. immigration policy must evolve to meet this moment. In fact, 67% said investing in better tech systems could help modernize the immigration process.

Access to global AI talent isn’t just a hiring issue—it’s an economic one. McKinsey research shows companies that successfully adopt digital and AI capabilities outperform others by as much as six times in shareholder returns. Without a faster, more modern immigration process, the U.S. risks falling behind in the industries that will define the future.

Visa Fees and Legal Costs Are Holding Tech Back

Our survey results show that high government fees are the top challenge tech leaders face when hiring international talent. Visa processing delays and attorney costs followed as the second- and third-most common hurdles.

These financial and logistical barriers make it harder for companies to hire the high-skilled workers they need to stay competitive, especially in AI and software development.

Recent fee hikes from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, including a 70% increase in the base H-1B petition fee for large employers, only add to the burden. Combined with unpredictable timelines and a complex lottery system, the current process risks deterring the very talent the U.S. tech sector depends on.

Over Half of Tech Leaders Want Smarter Visas to Keep Innovation in the U.S.

Startups drive much of today’s tech innovation, and tech leaders want immigration policies to reflect that. According to our survey, 56% of executives support a new visa specifically for venture-backed companies to help them access the global talent they need to grow.

Broader support exists for other targeted strategies as well:

• 62% favor visas tailored to specific industries
• 64% back increased funding for STEM education
• 64% support clearer pathways from student visas to permanent residency

Tech leaders aren’t asking for a blanket solution. They’re calling for a balanced approach that builds domestic talent while welcoming international expertise—because without both, the U.S. risks losing its edge in emerging technologies.

Immigrants are already a major contributor to the economy. In 2025 alone, they’re expected to add billions to U.S. growth, reinforcing why smarter immigration policy is key to maintaining America’s innovation leadership.

How Manifest Law Helps Tech Leaders Overcome Immigration Barriers

Hiring international talent shouldn’t require navigating a maze of high costs, legal complexity, and long processing times. Yet that’s the reality many U.S. tech companies face—even as they compete globally in AI and innovation.

Easing these challenges is a priority for tech leaders who want to move fast, build globally minded teams, and stay competitive. Manifest Law helps make that possible.

Manifest Law is on a mission to increase access to high-quality legal services, specifically for businesses and individuals. We are an immigration law firm that combines top-tier legal talent with software solutions to deliver faster, more effective, and higher quality legal services, and we’re proud to say we have an over 90% approval rate.

Ready for a more streamlined immigration experience? Visit our website and sign up for a demo to see how Manifest Law can help you.

Survey Methodology

The survey was conducted by Centiment for Manifest Law. The survey was fielded between May 5, 2025, through May 12, 2025. The results are based on 521 completed surveys. In order to qualify, respondents were screened to be residents of the United States, over 18 years of age, and working in manager-level and above executive roles in the tech industry. Data is unweighted, and the margin of error is approximately +/-2% for the overall sample with a 95% confidence level.