Move could impact Indian workers in US
In a development that could adversely affect Indian professionals in the US, President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation to raise the fee for H-1B visas to a staggering USD 100,000 annually.
Trump on Friday signed the proclamation ‘Restriction on entry of certain nonimmigrant workers’, saying the abuse of the H-1B visa programme is a “national security threat”.
Immigration attorneys and companies have asked the H-1B visa holders or their family members currently outside America for work or vacation to return within the next 24 hours or risk being stranded and denied entry into the US after the proclamation comes into effect from 12:01 am September 21.
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi described the decision to hike the H-1B visa fee as a “reckless attempt to cut America off from high-skilled workers who have long strengthened our workforce, fuelled innovation, and helped build industries that employ millions of Americans.”
Currently, H-1B visa fee ranges from about USD 2000 to USD 5000, depending on employer size and other costs. The visas are valid for three years and can be renewed for another three years. The move is going to significantly impact Indian technology workers who are hired by tech companies and others on H-1B visas.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is the second-highest beneficiary with 5,505 approved H-1B visas in 2025, after Amazon (10,044 workers on H-1B visas), according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Other top beneficiaries include Microsoft (5,189), Meta (5,123), Apple (4,202), Google (4,181), Deloitte (2,353), Infosys (2,004), Wipro (1,523) and Tech Mahindra Americas (951). In his proclamation, Trump said the H-1B visa programme was created to bring temporary workers into the US to perform additive, high-skilled functions, but it has been deliberately exploited to replace, rather than supplement, American workers with lower-paid, lower-skilled labour.
On whether technology CEOs, who hire foreign workers on H1-B visas, are concerned about the new move, Trump said they’re going to be “very happy”.
‘Gold Card’ for foreigners of ‘extraordinary ability’: US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order entitled ‘The Gold Card’, aimed at setting up a new visa pathway for foreigners of extraordinary ability who are committed to supporting the United States.
Under the Gold Card programme, signed on Friday, individuals who can pay USD 1 million to the US Treasury, or USD 2 million if a corporation is sponsoring them, will get access to expedited visa treatment and a path to a Green Card in the country.
“We’re taking in hundreds of billions of dollars. The Gold Card will be taking in hundreds of billions of dollars, and companies will be able to keep some people they need. They need people of expertise, great expertise,” Trump said.
Trump emphasised the gold card will be a “fantastic thing” and “we’re going to take that money and we’re going to reduce taxes, we’re going to reduce debt”.
“To apply, an applicant must pay a nonrefundable processing fee. Once an applicant’s processing fee is received, the process for visa adjudication will take place, assuming applicants submit additional documents in a timely manner,” the official website of the programme said.
The website said that if approved, an individual “must make a gift of USD 1 million, which has been determined to provide sufficient evidence that the individual will substantially benefit the United States.”
Hope ‘disruptions” would be addressed, says India: India on Saturday said the Trump administration’s decision to raise the annual fee for H-1B visas to a whopping USD 1,00,000 is likely to have “humanitarian consequences” and hoped that the “disruptions” will be addressed “suitably” by Washington.
As a proclamation signed by US President Donald Trump on the new visa rules comes into effect on Sunday, New Delhi asked all its missions and posts to extend all possible help to Indian nationals who are travelling back to the US in the next 24 hours.
The move came after various companies advised H-1B visa holders or their family members currently outside America to return or risk being stranded and denied entry into the US.
“This measure is likely to have humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.