By Safe Investment September 21, 2025
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US President Donald Trump has announced a hefty fee of $100,000 (approximately ?8.3 million) for new H-1B visa applications. This move could prove to be a major blow to Indian IT professionals and employees.
US President Donald Trump has announced a hefty fee of $100,000 (approximately 8.3 million rupees) for new H-1B visa applications. This move could prove to be a major setback for Indian IT professionals and employees. According to a report in The Hindu, 60 percent of Indian H-1B workers had an annual income of less than $100,000 in fiscal year 2024. Of these, 12 percent earned less than $75,000, while 47 percent earned between $75,000 and $100,000.
According to the report, only 40 percent of Indian workers earned more than $100,000. In contrast, 60 percent of non-Indian H-1B workers earned more than $100,000. The report also revealed that the median annual income of Indian H-1B workers in 2024 was $95,000, the lowest among all countries. This situation is further exacerbated by the fact that Indians constitute approximately 72 percent of H-1B visa holders.
65,000 H-1B visas each year
Currently, the US issues 65,000 H-1B visas and an additional 20,000 visas each year to candidates who have earned a master's degree or higher from the US. The current visa fee ranges from $2,000 to $5,000. The Indian government has directed all embassies and missions to provide all possible assistance to Indian citizens returning to the US within the next 24 hours.
The increased fee applies only to new applicants.
On Saturday (September 20, 2025), the US White House issued a clarification regarding the H-1B visa policy. The White House stated that the hefty $100,000 fee imposed under the new rule will only apply once to new applicants.
On Friday (September 19), US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the fee would be payable annually and would apply to both new visas and renewals, sparking widespread concern in the tech industry.
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