Revised H-1B Fee Only For New Applicants, Won't Affect Renewals Either: Sources

Revised H-1B Fee Only For New Applicants, Won't Affect Renewals Either: Sources

The newly implemented $100,000 fee will exclusively target the forthcoming lottery cycle and not impact current H-1B visa holders or those seeking renewals, according to information shared with NDTV by a White House official.

A significant development for Indian professionals currently holding H-1B visas has emerged, providing considerable relief amidst recent immigration policy changes.

Major technology corporations including Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon have instructed their employees with H-1B and H-4 visas to remain within the United States for at least two weeks, while advising those currently abroad to return by Sunday.

As part of President Donald Trump's intensified immigration restrictions, a substantial restructuring of the H-1B visa program has been implemented, including a presidential proclamation that dramatically increases associated fees. This adjustment is expected to significantly impact Indian technology firms and skilled workers.

President Trump stated that while the H-1B program was originally established to bring "temporary workers into the US to perform additive, high-skilled functions," it has instead been "deliberately exploited to replace, rather than supplement, American workers with lower-paid, lower-skilled labour."

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick supported this policy shift, explaining that it aims to discourage organizations from hiring foreign talent. "The whole idea is, no more will these big tech companies or other big companies train foreign workers. They have to pay the government $100,000, then they have to pay the employee. So, it's just not economic. You're going to train somebody. You're going to train one of the recent graduates from one of the great universities across our land, train Americans. Stop bringing in people to take our jobs. That's the policy here. $100,000 a year for H-1B visas," he elaborated.

Data from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services reveals that Indian nationals constitute 71 percent of all approved H-1B applications.

India has responded by noting that the complete ramifications of this measure are currently under examination. "The full implications of the measure are being studied by all concerned, including by Indian industry, which has already put out an initial analysis clarifying some perceptions related to the H1B programme," the Foreign Ministry announced in an official statement.

The ministry emphasized that both India and the United States have vested interests in "innovation and creativity" and that the two nations can be expected to "consult on the best path forward."

Highlighting the mutual advantages of talent mobility and exchanges between the countries regarding technology development, innovation, economic growth, and wealth creation, the Foreign Ministry stated, "Policy makers will therefore assess recent steps taking into account mutual benefits, which include strong people-to-people ties between the two countries."