US President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 (over ₹88 lakh) fee on H-1B visa applicants, marking one of the most dramatic changes in the US work visa program. The move, aimed at tightening immigration, could hit India the hardest, as Indians make up the majority of H-1B holders.,
What is the H-1B visa?
The H-1B visa, created in 1990, allows US companies to hire foreign professionals in specialised fields such as science, technology, engineering, and math. It is initially valid for three years and can be extended up to six. Companies apply through the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and applicants are picked via a lottery system.
H-1B holders are entitled to equal pay and working conditions compared to American counterparts, making the visa crucial for tech workers, especially in Silicon Valley.
Why the $100,000 fee?
Explaining the move, Trump said the fee ensures that only “highly skilled workers” enter the US. “We need workers. We need great workers, and this pretty much ensures that that’s what’s going to happen,” he said.
White House officials argued that the H-1B program is one of the “most abused visa” systems. Raising the fee, they claimed, would prevent companies from hiring workers who could be replaced by Americans.
Impact on Indians
India accounts for 71% of H-1B approvals, while China comes a distant second at 11.7%. Tech majors like Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta have been among the largest sponsors of Indian H-1B workers.
With the new rules, however, Indians face steep hurdles. Each visa renewal—required until a Green Card is approved—will now cost over ₹88 lakh. Given the years-long backlog for Green Cards, Indian workers could end up paying the fee multiple times.
For many, this fee effectively makes the H-1B route unsustainable. Analysts warn that Indian IT service firms—already dependent on H-1B workers—will be among the worst affected.
Trump’s ‘Gold Card’ visa program
Alongside the H-1B changes, Trump also announced a ‘Gold Card’ visa program, priced at $1 million for individuals and $2 million for businesses. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said this would attract only “extraordinary people at the very top” who could create businesses and jobs for Americans.
By contrast, he criticised the current employment-based Green Card program, claiming it admitted workers “in the bottom quartile” who earned an average of just $66,000 a year.
The bigger picture
The move is part of Trump’s broader effort to cut back on immigration and overhaul the US visa system. For India, which supplies the lion’s share of skilled workers to the US, this decision could upend the aspirations of thousands of tech professionals and severely impact IT outsourcing firms.