President Donald Trump has imposed a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications, a move that could reshape U.S. immigration and hit Indian tech professionals the hardest.
Signed on September 19, 2025, the proclamation aims to ensure only “highly skilled” workers enter the country without replacing American talent.
The H-1B program, launched in 1990, enables U.S. firms to hire foreign experts in IT, engineering, and science.
Valid for three years and extendable to six, the visa is dominated by Indians, who made up 71% of approvals in 2024, far ahead of China at 11.7%.
Tech majors like Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta rely heavily on the program, with Amazon alone securing over 12,000 approvals in the first half of 2025.
The new fee could cost these firms billions, while individual applicants—especially those stuck in long green card backlogs—will face prohibitive renewal costs.
Trump also revived a tougher citizenship test and unveiled a “Gold Card” visa, priced at $1 million for individuals, targeting elite entrepreneurs.
Analysts warn the steep H-1B fee could accelerate “reverse brain drain,” with Indian professionals choosing to stay in or return to India’s growing tech ecosystem.
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