H-1B visa fee hike: Big relief for Indian professionals as US issues clarification on USD 100,000 fee
In a clarification that has sent a huge wave of relief across thousands of Indian professionals, the US authorities on Saturday said the USD 100,000 fee for H-1B visas does not apply to current visa holders and is a one-time payment only for new applications.
“The new H-1B visa requirement applies only to new, prospective petitions that have not yet been filed,” US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said in a statement.
It clarified that the applications submitted before September 21 are not affected and that those visa holders currently outside the US also do not need to pay the fee for reentering the country.
"To be clear: This is NOT an annual fee. It's a one-time fee that applies only to the petition. This applies only to new visas, not renewals, and not current visa holders," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X.
“H-1B visa holders can leave and re-enter the country to the same extent as they normally would; whatever ability they have to do that is not impacted by yesterday's proclamation," she said.
Indian nationals receive the majority (71-72 per cent) of H-1B approvals in the US. The proclamation signed by Trump on Friday had sparked panic and concerns among thousands of Indian professionals currently working in the US.
The US clarification came after the Ministry of External Affairs expressed concern over the “humanitarian consequences” of the order.
"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," MEA's spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said in a statement.
