US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing a $100,000 annual application fee for H-1B visas. This new rule is expected to significantly affect skilled foreign workers, with a considerable impact on Indian professionals.
The new H-1B Visa rule dictates a $100,000 annual fee for all applications made after the announcement, including those supplementing existing ones. Employers are required to provide proof of payment, failing which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may reject the petition. This regulation applies to anyone applying for an H-1B visa from outside the US, with exceptions only for those serving the national interest.
The H-1B program, initially intended to bring highly skilled international workers for specialized roles, has been a subject of continuous scrutiny. It is of particular importance to Indian IT professionals, who form the largest group of beneficiaries. Indian IT service companies such as TCS, Infosys, and Wipro have historically relied on H-1B visas to bring and train developers.
Essential details for Indian applicants regarding the executive order:
* The new fee is expected to have a considerable impact on Indian workers, who have constituted a large proportion of approved H-1B applications in recent years.
* Two primary groups are likely to benefit from this: Indians graduating from American universities (Master’s/PhD degrees) and those working for major US-based tech companies.
* The $100,000 fee marks a significant increase from the previous, more modest fees.
* Applicants are expected to be highly skilled and irreplaceable by US workers.
* Smaller firms and outsourcing consultancies are likely to eliminate or decrease their H-1B filings.
* The fee structure is expected to increase the financial burden and possibly limit job prospects for Indian students and recent graduates seeking US employment.