Visa Applications Fees: New H1B visa applications will have to pay a fee of Rs 88 lakh, order issued

 

Visa Applications Fees: A $100,000 fee has been mandated for new H-1B visa applications. Only top-qualified international candidates will now be eligible for this visa. Technology companies rely on this scheme, with India accounting for 71% of the total. It’s inevitable that Indian professionals will suffer the most.

Visa Applications Fees: US President Donald Trump has changed the rules for H-1B visas. Some H-1B visa holders will no longer be able to enter the US directly as non-immigrant workers. A fee of $100,000, or over ₹8.8 million, will be required with each new application. The new $100,000 fee could significantly increase costs for companies. While this won’t be a major problem for large tech companies, which typically spend heavily on top professionals, it could put smaller tech firms and startups under pressure.

White House Staff Secretary Will Sharp said, “The H-1B nonimmigrant visa program is one of the most abused visa systems. The purpose of this visa is to allow highly skilled individuals to work in the United States in jobs that American workers cannot perform. This proclamation will cap the fee companies pay to sponsor H-1B applicants at $100,000. This will ensure that those coming to the United States are truly highly qualified and cannot be replaced by American workers.”

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said, “Big tech companies or other large corporations will no longer train foreign workers. They’ll have to pay the government $100,000 and then pay the employee as well. It’s not economically viable. If you’re going to train someone, train American students who have recently graduated from our great universities, prepare Americans for the job, and stop bringing people in to take our jobs. That’s the policy, and all the big corporations are on board.”

Technology and staffing companies rely heavily on H-1B visas. Amazon received over 10,000 H-1B visas in the first half of 2025, while companies like Microsoft and Meta have received over 5,000 visa approvals.

India accounts for 71% of H-1B visa recipients

Nearly two-thirds of H-1B visa positions are in the computing or IT sector. However, engineers, teachers, and healthcare professionals also use this visa. According to government data, India was the largest beneficiary of H-1B visas last year, accounting for 71% of Indian professionals, while China was second, receiving only 11.7%.

Changing H-1B visa rules is Trump’s high-profile move

Since coming to power in January, Trump has launched a wide-ranging immigration crackdown, including measures to limit some legal immigration. The overhaul of the H-1B visa program is his administration’s most high-profile move to date. The H-1B program grants 65,000 visas annually to bring temporary foreign workers into specialized fields. Additionally, an additional 20,000 visas are issued for workers with advanced degrees.

Under the current system, applicants for H-1B visas first pay a small fee and enter a lottery, and if selected, they must pay a subsequent fee of up to a few thousand dollars. Companies pay almost entirely for these fees. H-1B visas are approved for a period of three to six years.

What are the current rules for H-1B visas?

Previously, H-1B visa filing fees started at $215 and could go up to several thousand dollars depending on the circumstances. Now, with fees exceeding $100,000, this will make it very expensive and difficult for many companies and candidates.

Some opponents of the H-1B system, especially those working in US tech companies, argue that companies hire visa holders to keep their salaries low. This prevents qualified US job seekers from finding work. This issue has divided opinion within the tech sector and the labor market.