Washington, Sept 22, 2025: The White House has clarified that the controversial $100,000 H-1B visa application fee will apply only to new petitions and not renewals or transfers, but the announcement has already sent shockwaves across India’s tech and student communities.
The clarification came after days of confusion when the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the steep hike as part of a broader immigration reform package. The administration maintains that the fee increase is aimed at discouraging what it calls “excessive dependence” on foreign talent, while channeling the revenue toward domestic workforce development.
For Indian IT companies—which account for nearly 70% of H-1B visa holders—the new fee represents a massive financial burden. Each fresh application will now cost more than most mid-level annual salaries in India, raising fears that smaller tech firms and startups may be pushed out of the U.S. market altogether. Students eyeing career opportunities in America are equally rattled, worrying that the barrier will discourage U.S. employers from hiring fresh international talent.
Industry leaders in India have called the move “protectionism dressed as reform.” The National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) warned that the fee hike could force companies to reconsider expansion plans in the United States, while pushing talent toward Canada and Europe instead.
Despite the White House’s assurance that existing visa holders are unaffected, uncertainty remains high. “It may not impact renewals today, but the signal is clear—the U.S. is getting more expensive and less welcoming,” said a Bengaluru-based IT consultant.
With India’s tech sector deeply interlinked with the American market, the coming months will reveal whether this reform is a temporary disruption or a turning point that reshapes global talent flows.
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