The U.S. has long relied on the H-1B visa program to bring in highly skilled foreign workers, especially in technology and engineering. But the recent proposal to impose a $100,000 tariff on 100,000 visas marks a dramatic shift. The message is clear: relocating talent to the U.S. is about to get much harder — and much more expensive.
For U.S. companies, this policy shift forces a critical question: is the old model of bringing talent into the country sustainable, or is it time to embrace remote-first hiring in Latin America?
Why relocation no longer makes sense
Relocating workers has always been costly. Beyond the visa process, companies pay for relocation packages, housing stipends, and months of adjustment before a new hire is fully productive. A six-figure visa tariff only amplifies those costs, turning relocation into a luxury few firms can afford.
At the same time, LATAM has matured as a remote talent hub. With fast internet, growing startup ecosystems, and millions of professionals trained in global standards, U.S. companies don’t need to import talent — they can tap into it directly.
The rise of remote LATAM teams
The “New American Dream” no longer requires moving north. Developers in Medellín, designers in Buenos Aires, and analysts in Mexico City can build global careers while staying close to family and culture.
For U.S. employers, this model solves two challenges at once:
- Access to talent without immigration hurdles.
- Cost efficiency without sacrificing quality.
But remote work isn’t just about Slack and Zoom. The real bottleneck is payroll.
The infrastructure problem: payments
Traditional cross-border payments are slow, expensive, and opaque. Contractors often wait weeks for wires to clear, losing up to 5% in hidden spreads. That’s not just frustrating — it erodes trust and retention.
This is where purpose-built infrastructure matters. With MiDi, U.S. companies can:
- Fund a single monthly transfer to cover all contractors.
- Provide each worker with a U.S. account and Visa card.
- Ensure payouts land in real USD within 30 minutes to 4 hours.
The result? Contractors feel like part of the global team, not second-class employees waiting on delayed transfers.
From “Plan B” to the new default
The proposed H-1B tariff may look like a political move, but its ripple effects are global. By making immigration harder, it accelerates the adoption of remote hiring across LATAM.
For companies, this isn’t about reacting to policy — it’s about staying competitive. The firms that adapt first, building reliable remote workflows in Latin America, will secure the best talent before everyone else follows.
Remote isn’t Plan B anymore. It’s the new default. And MiDi was built to make it seamless.
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