Intuitive, a leading medtech company with a global workforce of over 13,000 employees, has announced a temporary pause on job offers for candidates requiring H-1B visas. This decision is a direct response to the recent implementation of a $100,000 fee for new H-1B applications, a policy unveiled by the White House less than a week ago. The pause highlights the significant impact of this new regulation on tech hiring across the industry, affecting not only startups but also established giants like Intuitive.
Headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, Intuitive boasts a market capitalization exceeding $150 billion. The company reported over $8 billion in revenue in the previous fiscal year and is a proud member of the S&P 500. Intuitive is primarily known for its innovative da Vinci robots, which facilitate minimally invasive surgical procedures. The recent changes in their hiring policies were clearly communicated through over 100 job listings on their careers page, indicating the firm's commitment to transparency during these uncertain times.
In the job listings, Intuitive stated, "Due to the uncertainty caused by the recent US executive proclamation, we are temporarily pausing offers to candidates who require H-1B visa sponsorship." This statement, however, did not provide a timeline for when H-1B offers might resume. The policy affects a broad spectrum of US-based job openings, ranging from software engineers to positions in communications.
The announcement from Intuitive reflects a growing sense of confusion in corporate America following President Donald Trump's executive order signed on September 19. This order not only imposed the hefty $100,000 fee on new H-1B applications but also caught many companies off guard, leading to urgent consultations among HR and immigration teams. As a result, employees from outside the country were advised to return within a mere 24 hours, ahead of the policy's enforcement starting that Sunday.
Following the backlash, the White House clarified that the newly established fee does not impact current H-1B visa holders, but is specifically aimed at new applicants from outside the United States. Intuitive has a history of sponsoring H-1B petitions, having submitted over 1,500 since 2009, as confirmed by the official website of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The temporary pause in hiring for H-1B candidates by Intuitive serves as a critical reminder of the evolving landscape of immigration policy and its direct effects on the technology and healthcare sectors. As companies navigate these changes, the implications for talent acquisition and the future of the workforce remain uncertain.
