Trump’s Visa Fee Hike Spurs Action，Taiwanese Firms Respond in Force！
The 2025 U.S. Career & Industry Expo took place on October 25 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Santa Ana / Orange County Airport, drawing over 1,500 participants.
Amid the Trump administration’s steep increase in work-visa fees, Taiwanese business chambers and high-tech companies are stepping up their U.S. recruitment efforts.
Major tech giants — Foxconn, Quanta, and Wistron — joined forces to host the event, which also featured visa seminars and résumé consultations for students and professionals.
Top Brands Hire - Talent on the Rise
Kitty Lo, Chair of the MHG Charitable Foundation, opened by noting that shifting supply chains and U.S. tariffs are driving Taiwanese firms to expand in America and fueling demand for skilled talent.
“This Expo helps Taiwanese firms find top talent and build global connections,” Lo said, “while giving students a gateway to world-class careers — a triple win for business, learning, and opportunity.”
Co-organized by the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce of North America (TCCNA), MHG Charitable Foundation, Taiwan Center Foundation of Greater Los Angeles, and the Career Taiwan USA Association, the Expo brought together top employers from both sides of the Pacific.
Covering ICT, high-tech, manufacturing, finance, law, hospitality, marketing, insurance, and startups, it marked one of Southern California’s largest Taiwan–U.S. career collaborations in recent years.
Creative Outreach - Employers Go All Out
Beyond Taiwanese high-tech leaders, exhibitors included Panda Express, KCAL Insurance, SMS Law Group, and U.S. Bank, adding breadth to the fair.
Each company pulled out all the stops to attract candidates.
One tech executive declared from the stage, “We want to meet every single applicant — and we’ll stay tomorrow to keep hiring!”
Panda Express displayed salary boards listing pay ranges for all positions; KCAL Insurance brought its mascot to energize the crowd; and SMS Law Group offered on-site visa and career consultations — making their booths some of the busiest outside the tech sector.
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Crowds Surge - Dreams Take Flight
By early morning, long lines stretched out the hotel lobby, with wait times at some booths exceeding an hour.
Most attendees were recent graduates or career changers, joined by students eager to explore market trends.
“Meeting Taiwan’s top tech executives face-to-face is so exciting,” said Lin, a student from UC San Diego, who hopes to gain U.S. experience before returning to Taiwan.
Another student, Ms. Ku, praised the résumé and visa consultations: “Even if I’m not hired today, I’ve learned so much — it gives me confidence for the future.”
Kenny Chang, President of KCAL Insurance, advised young professionals : “With AI reshaping everything, competition will only grow.
Get your foot in the door first — learn, gain experience, and let passion drive your progress before you chase salary.”
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Leaders Present - Vision for the Future
High-level executives attended in person — including Chai-Yu Hsiao, Foxconn’s North America Product Chief; Fu-Ming Fu, Server Business Unit General Manager; and Chih-Chung Lai, Wistron’s Global Manufacturing President.
They outlined each company’s 3- to 5-year U.S. expansion plans in AI servers, semiconductors, cloud data centers, and smart manufacturing parks.
“AI and EV growth are creating massive demand for engineers and managers,” Fu said. “We’ll keep expanding our U.S. operations and creating new jobs.”
Eugenia Henry, President of TCCNA, added that with U.S. manufacturing returning stateside, “Taiwan’s tech success is powered by the hard work of Taiwanese talent.”
Ronnie Chiang, Chair of the North America Scholars and Business Resource Committee, noted that Foxconn and Quanta already employ over 10,000 workers in the U.S., with AI server demand growing 60 to 70 percent annually — and talent needs rising accordingly.
Partnership Strengthened - Leaders Unite
The opening ceremony featured remarks from California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, TECO-Los Angeles Deputy Director General Ling-Hsin Chen, Presidential Advisor Yi-Hung Tien, World Taiwanese Business Association Honorary President Jackson Yang.
Their attendance underscored the deepening collaboration between Taiwan and the U.S. in industry and talent development.
Concluding with a group photo and thunderous applause, the 2025 U.S. Career & Industry Expo wrapped up successfully.
Having launched in Southern California, the recruitment series will next expand to New York and Texas, marking a new chapter for Taiwan–U.S. partnerships and lighting the career path for Taiwanese youth in America.