PHOENIX (AZFamily)<\/b> \u2014 A proposed Trump administration policy targeting a popular foreign worker visa program could hit the Valley\u2019s booming tech sector and its growing Taiwanese community hard.<\/p>\n
On Monday, the administration announced a proposed $103,000 fee<\/a> for H-1B visas\u2014representing a nearly $100,000 jump from current rates.<\/p>\n While federal officials say the spike is aimed at forcing companies to hire American workers, the policy could devastate tech giants like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), which relies heavily on the visa program.<\/p>\n TSMC\u2019s massive chip manufacturing plants in north Phoenix have fueled a housing and population boom, with new families constantly relocating to the Valley from Taiwan. Many of these workers rely on H-1B visas and could feel immediate effects if the changes are finalized.<\/p>\n A community built around silicon<\/p>\n The influx of Taiwanese families has transformed north Phoenix, where bulldozers and cranes have become permanent fixtures of the landscape.<\/p>\n For local businesses, the connection is vital. At DaYung\u2019s Tea, running the shop is a family affair.<\/p>\n \u201cMy favorite is the mango smoothie plus the coconut jelly,\u201d 6-year-old Max Wang said.<\/p>\n Max Wang\u2019s mother, Angel Lin, runs the business alongside her husband, Elms Wang. The couple moved to the Valley from Taiwan not to work for TSMC but because of it.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we were sourcing the location of the shop, we weren\u2019t inside the country yet, so naturally we were looking around TSMC,\u201d Elms Wang said.<\/p>\n Elms Wang estimated that at least 40% of his customer base is from Taiwan, while the other 60% consists of local residents. Behind the counter, they are blending more than just boba drinks.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not only about preserving the culture that we have there in Asia. It\u2019s more about getting into the community here,\u201d Wang said. \u201cGetting used to the culture here and making both cultures work for each other.\u201d<\/p>\n Bridging the gap between Phoenix and Taiwan<\/p>\n Rebecca Chen, a real estate agent and president of the Phoenix chapter of the Asian Real Estate Association of America, has helped more than 100 families relocate to the Valley from Taiwan.<\/p>\n Chen said the growing network of local businesses acts as a vital bridge for new arrivals.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving those restaurants and service providers is actually bridging Arizona and Phoenix to their hometown,\u201d Chen said. \u201cAnd that makes them less likely to want to go home. They feel more like it\u2019s a home and they are more welcome, seeing Phoenix as their second home.\u201d<\/p>\n But the proposed visa fee could slow that growth by making it significantly more expensive for companies like TSMC to sponsor Taiwanese professionals.<\/p>\n Yi-Chih Liao, a TSMC employee currently working on an H-1B visa, took a break from the plant Wednesday to grab a drink at DaYung\u2019s Tea. He recalled how small the Taiwanese community was when he first arrived in Arizona, compared to the thriving cultural hub it is today.<\/p>\n Liao said news of the potential $103,000 fee has him worried for future workers and families hoping to make the same journey.<\/p>\n \u201cJust from my opinion, I think that\u2019s definitely bad news for the community,\u201d Liao said.<\/p>\n What\u2019s next<\/p>\n The proposed fee increase is not yet final. The rulemaking process could take months to become official, particularly if it faces legal challenges.<\/p>\n The federal government has opened a 30-day public comment window<\/a> for individuals and businesses to submit feedback on the proposal.<\/p>\n See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it<\/a>.<\/p>\n