H-1B Visa Fee Update: Details for New Applicants

Under the new H-1B visa regulations, those applying after the announcement will be subject to a $100,000 annual fee. This fee also applies to new petitions that supplement current ones. Employers will need to provide payment verification, or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may deny the petition. The rule affects all H-1B visa applicants from outside the US, with exceptions considered only when they are in the national interest. The H-1B program, created to bring in skilled international workers for specialized technical positions, has seen significant scrutiny. Indian IT professionals are heavily impacted, as they are the largest group of beneficiaries. Companies like TCS, Infosys, and Wipro have historically used H-1B visas to train developers in the United States.