The new $100,000 fee is applicable in the following lottery cycle rather than every year. The newly announced $100,000 charge on H-1B visa applications will only be applied to new petitions submitted after September 21, according to clarification from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Current authorized visas, renewals, and petitions filed prior to the declaration will not be impacted. “Only petitions that have not yet been filed are covered prospectively by this proclamation,” stated USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow in a memo on Saturday. He emphasized that neither current visa holders nor those with petitions pending are affected by the change.
White House: “It is not a yearly charge.” In order to allay concerns that the additional expense would be reoccurring, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reaffirmed the clarification. To be clear, this isn’t a yearly charge. Only the petition is subject to this one-time cost. She wrote on X, “This is only applicable to new visas, not renewals or existing visa holders. She also affirmed that reentering the country will not incur additional fees for H-1B professionals who are currently abroad. “H-1B visa holders are free to travel and return to the country as they normally would; yesterday’s proclamation has no bearing on their ability to do so,” she stated. It is anticipated that the new cost will be implemented during the next H-1B lottery round.
Concerns for tech workers in India Given that Indian nationals receive more than 70% of H-1B visas, mostly in the software industry, the move has raised concerns in India. Indian IT workers, their families, and total remittances may be impacted by the raise, industry watchers cautioned. According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), all parties involved, including trade associations, are carefully examining the decision to comprehend its broader ramifications. Reports regarding the proposed limitations on the US H1B visa program have been reviewed by the government. All parties involved, including Indian industry, are studying the measure’s full consequences, the MEA spokesperson said in a statement.
Additionally, the government instructed its American posts and missions to support Indian citizens, especially those returning in the near future. Officials warned that abrupt changes to policy could disrupt families and scheduled travel, which could have “humanitarian consequences.” Industry is awaiting clarification. Over the next few weeks, consultations between the US and Indian tech sectors are anticipated. The MEA emphasized that both nations’ industries have a “stake in innovation and creativity” and are probably going to cooperate to overcome obstacles brought on by the new policy. Future applicants who must pay the high one-time fee are still uncertain, even if the clarification has eased anxiety regarding renewals and current holders. With assistance from agencies
