US: Donald Trump changes H-1B visa rules, will charge a fee of rs8.8 million for new applications.

New Delhi. US President Donald Trump has changed the rules for H-1B visas. Some H-1B visa holders will no longer be able to directly enter the US as non-immigrant workers. A fee of over $100,000, or ₹8.8 million, will be required with each new application. The new $100,000 fee could significantly increase costs for companies. While this won’t be a major problem for large tech companies, as they often spend heavily on top professionals, it could put smaller tech firms and startups under pressure.

White House Staff Secretary Will Sharp said, “The H-1B non-immigrant visa program is one of the most abused visa systems. The purpose of this visa is to enable highly skilled individuals to work in the United States for jobs that American workers cannot perform. This proclamation will cap the fee companies pay to sponsor H-1B applicants at $100,000. This will ensure that those coming to the United States are truly highly qualified and cannot be replaced by American workers.”

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said, “Big tech companies or other large corporations will no longer train foreign workers. They’ll have to pay the government $100,000 and then pay the employee as well. It’s not economically viable. If you’re going to train someone, train American students who have recently graduated from our great universities, prepare Americans for the job, and stop bringing in people to take our jobs. That’s the policy, and all the big companies are on board.”

Technology and staffing companies rely heavily on H-1B visas. Amazon received more than 10,000 H-1B visas in the first half of 2025. Companies like Microsoft and Meta have received more than 5,000 visa approvals.

India accounts for 71% of H-1B visa recipients
Nearly two-thirds of H-1B visa positions are in the computing or IT sector. But engineers, teachers, and healthcare professionals also use this visa. According to government data, India was the largest beneficiary of H-1B visas last year, accounting for 71% of the total, while China came in second, receiving only 11.7%.

Changing H-1B Visa Rules is Trump’s High-Profile Move
Since coming to power in January, Trump has launched a wide-ranging immigration crackdown, including steps to limit some legal immigration. Changing the H-1B visa program is his administration’s most high-profile move to date. The H-1B program grants 65,000 visas annually to bring temporary foreign workers into specialized fields. In addition, an additional 20,000 visas are issued for workers with advanced degrees.

Under the current system, applicants for H-1B visas first pay a small fee to enter a lottery, and if selected, they must pay a subsequent fee of up to a few thousand dollars. Companies pay almost all of this fee. H-1B visas are approved for a period of three to six years.

What are the current H-1B visa regulations?
Previously, H-1B visa filing fees started at $215 and could go up to several thousand dollars depending on the circumstances. Now, the $100,000 fee will make it too expensive and difficult for many companies and candidates.

Some opponents of the H-1B system, especially those working in American tech companies, argue that companies hire visa holders to keep their salaries low. This prevents qualified American job seekers from finding work. This issue has divided opinion within the tech sector and the labor market.