Trump's H-1B Visa Fee Hike to $100,000 Sparks Outcry from Tech Industry

Washington: In another major immigration policy move, U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order raising the annual fee for H-1B visas to $100,000 (approximately Rs. 88 lakh). The decision has led the tech giants such as Amazon, Microsoft, and JPMorgan Chase to order the employees on H-1B and H-4 visas to avoid international travel, and to return to the United States before the order takes effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on Sunday, September 21.

The new policy applies to all new H-1B petitions and supplemental filings made after the deadline. It is valid for 12 months but may be extended further. The order also provides scope for exemptions in cases deemed to be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security.

Indian nationals, who account for nearly 70% of all H-1B visa holders, are expected to be disproportionately affected. The steep fee hike is likely to discourage smaller U.S. firms and startups from hiring foreign talent. Industry leaders have warned that the policy could result in project delays and talent shortages across sectors.

The H-1B visa programme was introduced in 1990 to allow U.S. companies to hire highly skilled foreign workers in areas where local expertise was lacking—particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

However, the Trump administration has argued that the programme has been widely misused to undercut American wages and displace domestic workers. The executive order is also being justified on grounds of national security and economic protectionism.

In response to the sudden announcement, several major employers have issued internal advisories. Employees currently outside the U.S. have been asked to return by Sunday midnight to avoid being subject to the new fee and possible re-entry restrictions. Those already within the country have been told to avoid non-essential international travel until further notice.

India’s tech industry body, NASSCOM, has expressed concern that the move could disrupt ongoing IT operations and outsourcing contracts. Analysts say the abrupt nature of the change has left little time for companies to adjust hiring plans or project timelines.

Despite the backlash, President Trump has stood by the decision, stating that the fee hike is aimed at “protecting American jobs and ensuring that companies contribute fairly to the U.S. Treasury.”

As the deadline nears, uncertainty looms over thousands of foreign professionals—particularly from India—who now face difficult choices about their careers, mobility, and future in the United States.