US President Donald Trump’s latest proclamation to impose a steep $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas has sent shockwaves through India’s technology sector and among the nearly 300,000 Indians currently working in the US on this programme.
Employers will now be required to pay the fee for every overseas staffer they sponsor, a sharp escalation from the earlier system where visa costs typically ranged between $215 and $5,000 depending on company size and filing category.
The burden is particularly heavy for Indian workers, who make up nearly 70% of all H-1B visa holders. India accounts for roughly three-quarters of the 85,000 new visas granted annually, far ahead of China, which stands at 11–12%, according to US administration data.
Key factors:
- ₹9 million (90 lakh) annual cost per visa at current exchange rates.
- 300,000 Indians currently in the US on H-1B visas.
- 70% share of Indians among all H-1B holders.
- 3 million Indian-Americans in total population, with a large proportion tied to H-1B roots.
- Previous visa fee: $215 to $5,000 — the new fee is 20–100 times higher.
The H-1B programme has long been central to the success of the Indian-American community, described by researchers as the “highest educated and highest earning” immigrant group in the US.
Indian IT giants like Infosys, TCS, and Wipro have historically relied on H-1B visas to send junior and mid-level engineers to the US, providing them critical exposure to global clients.
With the new costs, analysts warn that companies may scale back deployments, pushing more work offshore and reducing opportunities for young engineers.
The sharp fee hike could reshape both US hiring patterns and the trajectory of Indian tech workers in America, marking one of the most consequential policy shifts for India’s skilled workforce abroad.
