Do You Need to Pay ₹1 Crore to Go to America? Trump’s New H-1B Shock

—Surya Prakash Josyula

Imagine you get a job in the US. Your company is ready to sponsor your H-1B visa. You may think your dream of going to America is finally coming true. But it may not be that simple anymore. You may have to pay a huge additional amount just to move ahead with the visa application. So, what exactly is happening?

Once upon a time, an H-1B visa was seen as a gateway to opportunities in America. Now, the US government is trying to put a huge price tag in front of that gateway. The Trump administration has proposed an additional fee of $103,265 for each H-1B application. This could have a major impact on Indian professionals and international students who depend on the H-1B route to work in the US.

The important point is that this $103,265 is not the regular H-1B application fee. It would be an additional charge. In other words, applicants would have to pay this huge amount on top of the existing H-1B fees. The new fee would apply to applications that come under the H-1B visa cap. It would also apply to applicants who qualify for the special category for people with a master’s degree or higher from a US university. However, applications that are completely exempt from the H-1B visa cap would not have to pay this fee.

The size of the proposed fee becomes clearer when we convert it into Indian money. $103,265 is more than ₹90 lakh. If an H-1B applicant has to pay such a huge amount in addition to the normal visa costs, it could become a major financial burden. It could affect not only ordinary skilled workers but also professionals working for large companies. For fresh graduates trying to start their careers in America, such a fee could become a major barrier.

The US government has announced the proposal through a notice in the Federal Register. The next step is to collect public comments. The Trump administration wants the new fee to come into effect by the end of this year. But this is not yet a final decision. Public comments, legal challenges and court decisions could still change the plan.

There is another important part to this story. This is not the first time the Trump administration has tried to impose a huge fee on H-1B visas. The government had earlier proposed a $100,000 fee. That plan faced legal challenges in court. Now, a new proposal with a similar goal has appeared again. This new plan could also face legal challenges.

What exactly is an H-1B visa?

The H-1B is one of the main work visas used by US companies to hire skilled workers from other countries. It is especially important for professionals working in areas such as software, engineering, finance and research. It is also an important next step for international students who graduate from US universities and want to continue working there.

But the US Congress has placed a limit on the number of H-1B visas issued every year. Normally, 65,000 H-1B visas are available under the regular category. Another 20,000 visas are reserved for people who have a master’s degree or a higher degree from a US university. Because of this limited number, competition for H-1B visas is already very high.

Now, another problem could be added to that competition.

Money.

Why could Indians be hit harder?

Indians are already the largest group among H-1B visa holders. In the 2024 financial year, Indians accounted for about 71% of approved H-1B petitions. This means any major change to the H-1B system is likely to have a much bigger impact on Indian professionals than on many other nationalities.

That is why the new fee proposal is causing concern among Indian IT professionals. Until now, the H-1B process was mainly about jobs, skills and the visa lottery. Now another question could become equally important:

“Who will pay the extra ₹90 lakh?”

If companies pay the fee, hiring foreign workers in the US could become much more expensive. If companies pass the cost on to employees, Indian professionals could face even greater pressure. Some companies may also decide not to hire foreign workers at all. That could indirectly reduce job opportunities for Indians looking to work in America.

Another shock for students?

The story may not end with H-1B visas.

There are also reports that the Trump administration is considering a very large fee for the OPT, or Optional Practical Training, program, which is commonly used by international students after completing their studies in the US.

Many Indian students enter the US on an F-1 student visa. After completing their education, they can use OPT to work for a limited period in a field related to their studies. Many then try to move to an H-1B visa and continue working in the US.

So, if costs rise at both the student and work stages, the entire journey from college to job to long-term career in America could become much more expensive. This could also affect the decisions of Indian students who are considering the US for higher education.

That is why this is not simply a story about one visa fee. It could be part of a much bigger change that makes the entire American education and employment path more expensive for foreign students and skilled workers.

However, the final decision has not been made yet. This is still a proposal. Public comments, final rules and court cases could all change what happens next.

But one thing is becoming clear. The Trump administration is moving towards a tougher H-1B system and is looking at ways to make it more difficult or more expensive for foreign professionals to enter the US workforce.

Until now, the biggest hurdle for the American dream was often the H-1B visa lottery.

Now, there could be another question: Even if you get the visa, can you afford its price?