In a major clarification, the United States government announced on Tuesday that recent international graduates and current foreign workers already residing in the country will not be required to pay the newly proposed $100,000 H-1B visa application fee. The decision, issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) under the administration of President Donald Trump, comes as a huge relief for thousands of Indian professionals and students working or studying in the US.
The H-1B visa program allows highly skilled foreign professionals to live and work in the United States for up to three years, with an option to extend for another three years. It remains the most sought-after visa category among Indian tech workers.
Indians Form the Backbone of the H-1B Workforce
Indian nationals account for roughly 70% of all new H-1B visa allocations followed by Chinese applicants, who make up about 11–12%. According to official data, around 85,000 fresh H-1B visas are issued annually through a lottery system.
Currently, approximately 300,000 Indian workers hold H-1B visas, primarily employed in technology and service sectors across major US cities. The visa has been instrumental in shaping the Indian-American community as one of the most educated and prosperous immigrant groups in the country.
Indian IT giants frequently rely on the H-1B program to send engineers and technical experts to US client sites. Meanwhile, many American corporations hire Indian graduates from US universities under the same visa framework.
No $100,000 Fee for Status Changes or Renewals
USCIS has now confirmed that existing foreign nationals switching their visa status within the US such as from an F-1 student visa or an L-1 intra-company transfer visa will not have to pay the $100,000 processing fee when applying for an H-1B. This exemption also applies to current H-1B visa holders seeking extensions or renewals.
The agency clarified that the new visa fee rule will not affect any valid or already issued H-1B visas, nor petitions filed before September 21, 2025.
Previously, H-1B application fees ranged from $215 to $5,000, depending on the employer’s category and company size. The newly proposed $100,000 fee was seen as exceptionally steep up to 100 times higher than the median annual salary of many entry-level H-1B professionals, according to an analysis by Hindustan Times.
By exempting existing visa holders and in-country applicants, the USCIS move is expected to prevent significant disruptions within the tech and education sectors areas where Indian professionals represent a critical talent pool.
-
-
-
-
