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$100,000 just to work in the US?
Unpacking the visa shock, risks of staying too comfortable, rent-credit reporting hack, and how to know you’re doing better than you think.
Doing Well
September 25, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes
Whether you're directly affected by visa policies or just watching the economic ripple effects, one thing is clear: the old playbook for job security and financial planning just got torn up.
This week, we're breaking down what the H-1B price shock really means for everyone's finances, why "job hugging" might be the wrong response to uncertainty, and the surprisingly simple rent hack that could boost your credit score by 60 points while everything else feels chaotic.
(Plus, we're sharing the signs you're actually crushing it financially, even when the headlines make everything feel unstable.)
Here’s what’s inside:
P.S. If you want to talk through your own finances, you can book a free 1-hour coaching call here ☎️
The H1-B price shock
Some borders are physical. Others are financial. The H-1B visa just became both.
H-1B visas are work visas valid for three years and renewable for another three years. Only 65,000 are granted annually, with another 20,000 reserved for people with advanced degrees from U.S. universities.
However last week, Trump signed an executive action imposing a $100,000 application fee for H-1B visas (per year, plus vetting costs). A huge jump from a previous range of $2,000 to $5,000 per application. That's a 2000% increase that effectively prices out most individual applicants.
With the recent change, the policy claims that "abuse of the H-1B pathway has displaced US workers" and restricts entry unless accompanied by the $100,000 payment.
If you're ever affected by visa uncertainty:
🛂 Financial buffer planning: Calculate 12-18 months of essential expenses (not just 3-6 months) if you can. Visa processes are unpredictable and expensive. This isn't just emergency fund money. It's "navigating bureaucracy" money.
🛂 Diversify your location strategy: Build remote work capabilities and maintain professional networks in multiple countries. Your career shouldn't depend on one immigration pathway.
🛂 Document everything professionally: Keep detailed records of your work contributions, salary history, and professional achievements. Immigration lawyers are expensive, but good documentation makes their job easier and cheaper.
🛂 Understand your backup options: Research alternative visa categories, investment visa programs, or countries with more favorable immigration policies. Don't put all your eggs in one legal basket.
🛂 Build transferable value: Focus on skills and relationships that work regardless of your physical location. The most secure professionals are those who can create value from anywhere.
Workers are "hugging" or clinging to their jobs right now, and for good reason. The “quits” rate, which measures the pace of voluntary separations from employment, has sat at 2% in recent months, its lowest sustained level since 2016.
But here's the uncomfortable truth: staying safe might be the riskiest move you can make.
Labor economists warn that complacency can put your job at risk. While everyone's playing it safe, the people who stand out are the ones finding ways to grow within their current roles.
The job market is in a weird holding pattern where job growth has weakened considerably, and the pace of hiring has slowed to its lowest level since 2013. But this isn't permanent. When things loosen up, you want to be the person everyone remembers.
What to do instead:
💼 Pivot in place: Instead of job hopping, ask for new responsibilities or shadow colleagues in different departments.
💼 Build your network now: Instead of looking for new jobs, this is the perfect time to invest in adding people to your network.
💼 Stay visible: Take on projects that connect you to customers or other departments.
💼 Document everything: Keep a record of your wins so you're ready when promotion conversations happen.
💼 Learn something new: Use this downtime to build skills you'll need for the next opportunity.
Feeling stuck clinging to your job? We’ll help you create a financial plan that gives you options, even when work feels uncertain. Book a free 1-hour coaching call here.
Turn your rent into credit score gold
Here's a financial hack that's gaining serious traction: The share of renters whose rent payments are reported to credit bureaus rose to 13% in 2025, up from 11% in 2024.
The results are impressive. When rent payments are included in credit reports, consumers see an average growth of 60 points to their credit score.
This is especially powerful for younger adults and people with thin credit files. About 18% of Gen Zers surveyed reported their rent payments to the credit bureaus in 2025.
Before you sign up, ask these questions:
🏠 Do you need it? If you already have good credit, the impact might be minimal.
🏠 What's the cost? Some rent reporting services are free of charge, while others require a fee that can range from $6.95 to $9.95 a month.
🏠 All three bureaus? Make sure your service reports to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
🏠 What gets reported? Some only report on-time payments, others include late payments too.
🏠 Can you cancel easily? Understand the exit strategy before you start.
The bottom line: If you're paying rent on time anyway and have room to improve your credit score, this is basically free money. Just make sure you can consistently make payments before signing up.
5 signs you’re crushing it financially
Sometimes we get so focused on what's wrong with our finances that we miss what's going right. Here are the signs you're actually doing better than you think:
Want to know where you really stand financially? Let's review your progress together and create a plan for what's next. Book a free 1-hour coaching call here.
Worth the Click This Week
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