Accenture CEO Julie Sweets on US’ H-1B $100K visa fees: “Every time there’s a big policy change, it…”
Accenture CEO Julie Sweet downplayed concerns about the Trump administration’s new $100,000 H-1B visa fee, stating the policy change poses minimal threat to the global consulting giant’s operations. “This is really a non-issue because we only have about 5% of our people in the US on H-1B visas, and they’re for really specialised experience and skills for our clients,” Sweet said during the company’s earnings call Thursday following its fourth-quarter results announcement.The Dublin-based company’s limited reliance on H-1B visas contrasts sharply with many Indian IT firms that depend heavily on the program to staff US projects with skilled workers from abroad. Accenture secured approval for 1,568 H-1B visa beneficiaries in the first half of the year, placing it among the top 25 US employers using the program, according to US immigration data.
Trump’s $100K H-1B fee creates opportunities, not obstacles for Accenture
President Trump’s executive order signed September 19 mandates the hefty one-time fee as part of broader immigration reforms, creating uncertainty across the technology sector. The move threatens the traditional cost-saving model many IT service providers rely on.Rather than viewing the policy as problematic, Sweet framed it as a business opportunity. “Every time there’s a big policy change, unfolded over decades, it has usually driven more business for the company,” she explained, noting Accenture could help clients navigate compliance requirements.
Accenture reports strong Q4 results despite immigration policy uncertainty
The announcement came as Accenture reported strong fourth-quarter results, with revenue of $17.6 billion beating analysts’ average estimate of $17.36 billion. The company also unveiled an $865 million restructuring program to realign its workforce for rising demand in digital and AI services.Accenture employs over 770,000 people globally, with more than 350,000 based in India—its largest workforce concentration. The company has steadily reduced H-1B dependency over recent years, with initial approvals dropping from 3,442 in 2015 to just 190 in the first nine months of 2025.
