Trump plans to impose over $100,000 fee for H-1B worker visas: How will it impact Indians
The U.S. administration has proposed a permanent $103,265 fee for new H-1B visas, a move that significantly increases costs for companies hiring foreign talent. This policy disproportionately affects Indian technology workers, who constitute the majority of H-1B visa beneficiaries.
Why it matters
The fee hike could fundamentally alter the talent acquisition strategies of U.S. tech firms and disrupt the career paths of thousands of Indian professionals.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration on Monday (August 24, 2026) released a proposed regulation to codify an unprecedented fee of more than $100,000 on new H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers.
The fee, first temporarily imposed by Mr. Trump in 2025, dramatically raises the cost of visas that are heavily relied on in the tech, education and research sectors, spelling bad news for Indian techies and students who aspire to work/study in the U.S.
The H-1B programme allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers with training in specialty fields. It offers 65,000 visas annually, with another 20,000 visas for workers with advanced degrees, approved for three to six years.
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