Metaview CTO Shahriar Tajbakhsh has sparked a viral conversation by expressing his willingness to pay a proposed $100,000 annual H-1B visa fee “per day” to secure top talent for his company.
Shahriar Tajbakhsh, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Metaview AI, has made headlines with his bold response to the proposed $100,000 annual fee for H-1B visas. The London-based company, which is actively hiring in India, is navigating a complex landscape of rising anti-H-1B sentiment in the United States.
In a recent exchange on X, Tajbakhsh addressed a post advocating for the H-1B visa fee to be set at $100,000 per year instead of a one-time charge. He responded with, “Make it per day. I’ll set up a recurring payment,” emphasizing that the cost is insignificant compared to the value that skilled talent brings to his organization.
Metaview has also launched a campaign in India featuring posters that read, “Yes, we still sponsor H-1Bs” and “No, AI won’t build itself.” This initiative has gained traction on social media, setting the company apart in an environment where many firms view visa sponsorship as an increasing burden.
Tajbakhsh, who has Iranian roots, has long been an advocate for the importance of talent in driving innovation. In a previous interview with Business Insider, he stated, “When you sum up the value created by people’s hard work, $100,000 just doesn’t matter. The only way to build anything meaningful that changes people’s lives is to have a world-class team — there’s no shortcut around that. Trying to save money on talent is the most irresponsible thing a founder could possibly do.”
For Tajbakhsh, the focus on visa costs misses the larger picture. He has confirmed that Metaview plans to file additional H-1B petitions in the upcoming lottery, despite the tightening of visa regulations under President Donald Trump’s executive order. “An organization’s success or failure is a function of its people,” he remarked.
Tajbakhsh’s perspective reflects a broader trend in the tech industry. Companies aiming to develop cutting-edge products cannot afford to overlook skilled workers, regardless of political shifts or rising costs. As Metaview continues to expand its hiring efforts, the message is clear: for many founders, the pursuit of talent will always take precedence over the noise surrounding immigration debates.
According to Moneycontrol, Tajbakhsh’s comments and Metaview’s proactive approach highlight the ongoing challenges and opportunities in the tech sector as it grapples with the complexities of immigration policy.