US President Donald Trump’s decision to makes it difficult to hireby US companies, specialized aliens In cutting -edge professions – such as developers, engineers and doctors – it gives Europe a window of opportunity to confront Brain Drain and cover its lag in the technological sector against the US and other countries.

On Friday, September 19th, the US president imposed on the US companies the payment of the end $ 100,000 For every job they want to cover with strangers, by the procedure provided by the relevant H-1B visa law, instead of the $ 2,000-5,000 in force.

The reasons he cited were the protection of US workers and the country’s financial security from an extensive, he said, abuse of the law. He argued that many US companies used H-1B visa to reduce their wage costs and not to attract talents that did not find in the US, dismissing US employees with high qualifications or reducing their salaries. He also noted that many companies use this visa to hire workers who do not live in the US but abroad (outsourcing).

By enforcing the end of the $ 100,000argued, this law will stop and will only hire talents they really need for the research and their production process by companies.

But his decision, like other previous ones, caused reactions and disputeswith critics noting that it will work negatively, especially for the Start-up businesseswhich innovate and boost the American economy. Unlike large technology and other companies, such as financial or counseling, start-ups do not have the financial ability to easily respond to such a high end.

The law provides for a ceiling for 65,000 work permits per year for specialized foreigners plus 20,000 licenses for strangers they have studied in American university And they have at least a master’s. They can work for three years in the US, with the possibility of another three years or more, depending on how much they have proceeded with the process of obtaining a regular work permit (green card).

In practice, however, the number of approvals for H-1B visa is much largeras some employers, such as universities and non -public institutions, excluded from the ceiling. Trump said the number of foreign workers in the US in STEM specialties (sciences, technology, engineers and mathematicians) was more than doubled in 2.5 million in 2019 from 1.2 million in 2000. Most H-1B visa workers are Asians and mainly Indians.

The imposition of the end of $ 100,000in conjunction with Trump’s overall agenda (Make America Great Again, Migration) and lack of predictability for the future, can prevent talents from abroad from working in the US, which have been a traditional magnet for foreign workers and companies. According to its head of investment British company Crossbridge Capital. Changes in the visa program may, on the other hand, be a reason for investors investing funds in British, Canada and Europe markets, he told CNBC.

The same view is shared by Octopus Ventures staff, one of Venture Capital’s most active companies, who said: “Now, the uncertainty surrounding US immigration, including the development of H-1B, can be a real turning point for technology that was thinking of moving to the US. Talented people who once saw the US as the obvious destination now think of other markets, such as Britain and Europe, to build their careers. ”

“European Venture Capital’s general partner, Creandum, told CNBC that the prospect of attracting even more talents in Europe is a unique opportunity” we should not leave “. He also noted that Europe has to do anything to establish itself as a very attractive place for startups. Among the measures in which it was mentioned is an affordable visa system, standard stock options throughout the EU, EU workers mobility and incentives for greater specialization in research areas of the future, such as artificial intelligence.