US President Trump has announced an increase in H1-B application fees to approximately ₹9 million (US$100,000). This will significantly impact Indian professionals, who represent approximately 71 percent of the workforce.
US President Donald Trump on Friday signed a proclamation that will increase the application fee for H1-B visas to approximately ₹90 lakh (US$100,000). This move could have a profound impact on Indian workers working in the US on work visas.
The Donald Trump administration said the decision is aimed at ensuring that people being brought into the country are truly highly skilled and not replacing American workers. White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf said the move was taken to prevent abuse of H-1B visas.
#WATCH | President Donald J Trump signs an Executive Order to raise the fee that companies pay to sponsor H-1B applicants to $100,000.
— ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2025
White House staff secretary Will Scharf says, "One of the most abused visa systems is the H1-B non-immigrant visa programme. This is supposed to… pic.twitter.com/25LrI4KATn
Announcement of imposing a fee of one lakh US dollars
US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) issued a proclamation imposing a fee of US$100,000 on H-1B visa applications. The Trump administration believes the move will open up jobs for American workers. White House Staff Secretary Will Sharp stressed that the proclamation will ensure that companies bring in highly skilled individuals who cannot be replaced by American workers.
America will get skilled workers
He said one of the most abused visa systems is the H1-B non-immigration visa program. It allows skilled workers to come to the United States to work in fields where Americans are not employed. The H-1B is a non-immigration visa that allows US-based companies to hire and employ foreign workers in jobs such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and IT.
Companies should stop bringing people from outside
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that large tech companies and other companies will no longer be able to train foreign workers to bring in cheap workers. They will have to pay the government $100,000 and then pay the employee's salary. Therefore, it would be better for companies to train Americans. This policy is meant to protect American jobs, and large companies are supporting it.
A major step to crack down on immigration
This move is seen as a major step by the administration to crack down on immigration. It could have a significant impact on industries heavily dependent on H-1B workers. People born in India are the biggest beneficiaries, accounting for more than 70% of all H-1B petitions approved annually since 2015.
Earlier, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis criticized the H-1B visa program, calling it a scam and arguing that it allows companies to replace American workers with foreign ones. During an interview on Fox News on Wednesday (local time), he claimed that companies often train American workers alongside H-1B visa holders. DeSantis said this is unacceptable.
Criticism of the H1B visa program
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also criticized the current H-1B visa program, calling it a scam. In a post on X, he said that the current H-1B visa system is a scam that allows foreign workers to fill American job openings. Hiring American workers should be a priority for all great American businesses. Now is the time to hire Americans.
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