The Trump administration’s increase in H-1B visa fees, now set at $100,000, has raised concerns among many professionals looking to work in the US, especially those from India. This new fee represents a considerable rise from the previous rates of $2,000 to $5,000. The move aims to potentially protect American jobs by reducing the influx of foreign workers.
The new fee poses a significant financial challenge. A considerable percentage of Indian H-1B visa holders have annual incomes that are below the new fee amount. The US Finance Secretary clarified that the fee is a one-time payment and excludes those already holding H-1B visas.
Data from 2024 showed Indian H-1B employees earned an average salary of $95,500, the lowest among all countries. This indicates a gap between earnings and the new visa fee.
The income distribution reveals that most Indian H-1B employees earned below $100,000 in 2024. In contrast, a majority of non-Indian employees earned more than this amount.
Although some Indian H-1B salaries exceeded those of certain other nationalities, the average income for Indian professionals in the US was relatively lower when compared globally.
The H-1B visa allows US companies to employ skilled foreign workers. Indians constitute the largest group of H-1B visa recipients.