The 'American Dream' just got pricier. President Donald Trump has altered the H-1B visa rules. Now, certain H-1B visa holders won't be able to enter the US as non-immigrant workers directly. With new visa applications, over $100,000, or approximately 88 lakh INR, will need to be paid as a fee. This could significantly raise costs for companies, making it tougher for Indian professionals to secure jobs in the US.
Trump Hikes Visa Fees
How does Trump's visa fee increase affect Indians? This question is on everyone's mind. The H-1B is a temporary US working visa that permits companies to hire foreign professionals. This move could hit the IT sector hardest, heavily reliant on professionals from India and China. Previously, the annual fee for an H-1B visa ranged from one lakh to eight lakh INR, now skyrocketing beyond 88 lakh INR.
According to President Trump, the aim of this step is to ensure that those brought to the US are exceptionally skilled without displacing American workers. He emphasized the need for talented workers, reinforcing that his decision aligns with his policy to protect American jobs, a central theme of his electoral campaign.
The White House staff secretary, Will Scharf, noted that the H-1B non-immigrant visa program is among those most misused. It allows highly skilled professionals to work in the US where their work cannot be replicated by an American employee. The new rule raises the sponsorship fee for H-1B applicants to $100,000.
What is an H-1B Visa?
It's a temporary US working visa allowing companies to hire highly skilled foreign professionals, established in 1990 for graduates or postgraduates in fields like Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, where no US equivalent exists. As a result, jobs under the working visa program are offered to overseas talent.
Read More: America's pathway for top talents and entrepreneurs opened, Trump launches 'Gold Card'
Initially granted for three years, the H-1B can be extended up to six years. Green Card holders can have their visas renewed indefinitely. Applicants register online with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and are selected via a lottery system. Although the Trump administration considers further changes to application procedures, successful visa holders are guaranteed equal salaries and working conditions as US professionals.
Impact on Indians?
The number of Indian H-1B visa holders continues to rise. Government statistics revealed that last year, India was the primary H-1B visa beneficiary, with a 71% approval share, followed by China at 11.7%.
In the first half of 2025, Amazon and its cloud-computing unit AWS allegedly received approval for over 12,000 H-1B visas, while Microsoft and Meta Platforms obtained over 5,000 approvals.
Despite Trump's new hurdles, Indian citizens can still apply for Green Cards, though the waiting time is generally lengthy. Meanwhile, they must periodically renew their visas, each time paying a fee exceeding 88 lakh INR.
Furthermore, the US government is set to introduce a challenging citizenship exam, initiated during Trump's 2020 presidency but repealed by the Biden administration. Reports state that applicants will need to study a set of 128 questions related to US history and politics and orally answer 12 out of 20 questions correctly.
Trump's 'Gold Card' Program
Trump recently signed an executive order for the 'Gold Card' visa program, setting fees at $1 million for individuals and $2 million for businesses. The Republican leader Trump stated, 'We think it will be very successful. It will raise billions of dollars, reduce taxes, pay off debts, and fund other good works.'
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that the 'Gold Card' plan will only allow top-tier extraordinary individuals to enter the US, who can create jobs and businesses for Americans. He also added that the employment-based Green Card program is ineffective.
How Does This Benefit India?
Former CEO of NITI Aayog, Amitabh Kant, commented that Trump's H-1B fee increase will hinder US innovation while propelling India's. By shutting the door on global talent, the US is driving the next wave of labs, patents, innovations, and startups towards Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Gurugram. India's top doctors, engineers, and scientists can contribute to India's development and progress toward a developed nation. What might seem a loss for the US could be a gain for India.
