Following a new executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding H-1B visa holders, discussions have sparked worldwide.
SNPNEWS.IN News Update, Sep 25: U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that American companies hiring H-1B visa holders, a non-immigrant visa introduced in 1990 for skilled workers, will face significant changes. This visa allows foreign professionals to work in specialized occupations such as technology, engineering, medicine, and education in American companies.
The H-1B visa is initially issued for three years, extendable up to six years, and in special cases, such as during green card processing, it can be extended further. Approximately 85,000 H-1B visas are issued annually, with 65,000 allocated for general applicants and 20,000 reserved for those with advanced degrees. Due to the high number of applications, visas are distributed through a lottery system.
Applicants must hold at least a graduate degree or equivalent professional qualification, and sponsorship from a U.S. company, organization, or employer is mandatory.
While signing the executive order, Trump stated, “I think American tech companies will be thrilled with this.”According to Trump’s new announcement, companies will now have to pay the U.S. government an annual fee of $100,000 (approximately ₹88 lakh) for each new H-1B visa applicant. Previously, the total fee was around $1,500 (approximately ₹1.32 lakh). The new fee structure will take effect from September 21, 2025.
However, the White House clarified that this is not an annual fee but a one-time fee, applicable during the next H-1B visa lottery cycle. It was also stated that existing H-1B visa holders currently outside the U.S. will not be required to pay the increased $100,000 fee upon re-entry.
During his previous term in 2017, Trump signed an executive order mandating stricter scrutiny of H-1B visa applications.
mpact on India and Government Response-:
According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data, in 2024, 71% of H-1B visa recipients were Indian, with China ranking second at 11.7%.
Millions of Indian engineers, doctors, data scientists, and tech experts have been working in the U.S. under the H-1B visa for the past 35 years. Major U.S. companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, and Meta, as well as Indian IT firms operating in the U.S., such as TCS, Wipro, and Infosys, rely on this visa to build their workforce.
The Indian government stated that it has noted reports of proposed restrictions on the H-1B visa program and is working to understand their full implications. The Ministry of External Affairs highlighted that this decision will also impact the human aspect, as it may create difficulties for many families. The Indian government expressed hope that the U.S. administration will find a fair resolution to these challenges.
India’s IT-BPM industry and trade organization NASSCOM expressed deep concern over the order, calling it unfortunate. In the U.S., this decision is being described as one of the most anti-legal immigration measures in the country’s history.