The United States will start enforcing a new $100,000 fee for H-1B skilled worker visas on Sunday, President Donald Trump’s administration has confirmed.
The fee, announced on Friday, applies only to fresh visa applications and not to those who already hold H-1B visas or are applying for renewals.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X, “This applies only to new visas, not renewals, and not current visa holders. Those who already hold H-1B visas and are currently outside of the country right now will NOT be charged $100,000 to re-enter.”
The proclamation, signed by Trump alongside Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, takes effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on Sunday. It will last for one year, though the government may extend it.
The Indian government, whose citizens make up over 70 percent of H-1B recipients, criticised the move, warning of “humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families.” It said skilled worker exchanges have “contributed enormously” to both countries and urged Washington to reconsider.
India’s commerce minister Piyush Goyal is expected in Washington on Monday for trade talks, at a time when US-India ties are already strained by tariffs Trump imposed last month.
The announcement unsettled global tech companies. Some US firms, including Amazon, Microsoft, and JP Morgan, told H-1B staff to remain in the country until further clarity. According to Business Insider, Amazon even advised workers abroad to avoid re-entry “until further guidance is provided.”
Industry body Nasscom said the sudden change created “considerable uncertainty for businesses, professionals, and students across the world.”
Defending the order, the White House said some companies were “abusing” the H-1B system to undercut wages and outsource IT jobs. It added that “case-by-case exemptions” could be granted if deemed in the national interest.
In 2024, nearly 400,000 H-1B visas were approved, including 260,000 renewals. Amazon topped approvals in the first half of 2025 with 10,044, followed by India’s Tata Consultancy Services with 5,505.
