An Amazon employee has said that U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent decision to impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications was the final tipping point behind his decision to leave the United States and abandon the visa process altogether.

In a video posted to Instagram, a user who identifies himself as a Chinese software engineer employed by Amazon, explained that despite having 18 months remaining on his OPT (Optional Practical Training) work permit and one more attempt left in the H-1B visa lottery, he has chosen not to proceed. Instead, he intends to focus on building his own company outside the U.S.

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The F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme is a temporary employment benefit granted to international students in the U.S., typically for 12 months, with a 24-month extension available for certain STEM degrees.

“I’m a foreign engineer with one and a half years of OPT remaining, but I’ve already decided to quit my $180,000 big tech job and leave the US,” he said.

He cited long-standing immigration-related stress as a major factor in his decision.

“For three years, I woke up every morning with a knot in my stomach. Not because of work, but because my entire life depended on one policy I couldn’t control,” he said, reflecting on his time in the U.S.

The engineer questioned whether he had ever truly felt at ease while living in America. “The answer was no,” he remarked.

“I came here for financial freedom and peace of mind, but instead I live in constant fear. There’s never a moment I could just breathe,” he added. “Student visa, OPT, H-1B, green card – it’s an endless cycle of anxiety.”

Rather than placing his future in the hands of a visa lottery, the former Amazon employee has decided to start a US-registered company and operate it remotely from abroad. In his caption, he described this new approach as “the new American dream: earn US salary while living anywhere.”

“Starting a US company remotely, enjoying better healthcare abroad, lower living costs, and actual freedom,” he wrote, adding: “From FAANG employee to global founder — here's why this will be the best career decision I ever make.”

FAANG refers to five of the most prominent tech companies in the world: Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google.

Changes to the H-1B visa spark concern

Donald Trump’s newly announced policy, which introduces a $100,000 one-time fee for new H-1B visa applicants, is set to come into effect on September 21. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), this fee will only apply to new applications submitted after that date and will not impact existing visa holders or renewals.

The policy has sparked widespread concern among international professionals and students, many of whom are now reconsidering their future in the United States.