Trump Moves To Make H-1B Visa Fee Permanent And Higher: What It Means For Indians

Donald Trump’s administration is proposing a dramatic new $103,265 fee for H-1B visa applications, using the formal federal regulatory process after an earlier $100,000 levy was struck down in court. Unlike the previous measure, the proposed fee could apply to H-1B petitions including renewals for workers already in the US, potentially putting a major new burden on technology and finance companies. With Indians accounting for around 70% of H-1B visas, the impact could be particularly significant for Indian professionals, IT services companies and students moving from OPT to H-1B status. We explain what the proposed rule means for TCS, Infosys and other employers, why companies could rethink US hiring and offshore more work to India, and how the move fits into the Trump administration’s wider immigration crackdown.