President Donald Trump’s recent executive order introducing a $100,000 annual fee for H-1B visas has caused widespread concern, particularly among Indian professionals. The measure, which comes into effect on September 21, aims to prioritize American jobs by discouraging companies from hiring entry-level foreign workers at lower wages. Over the weekend, H-1B holders scrambled to return to the U.S. before the new rule kicks in, while immigration lawyers prepared legal challenges to the order when courts reopen on Monday.
More than 730,000 H-1B visa holders currently live in the U.S., with over 70% of them being Indian nationals. An additional 500,000 dependents are on H-4 visas. The sudden announcement—made late Friday evening—appears to have been timed to delay immediate legal response. President Trump, joined by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, signed the order and unveiled a related “Gold Visa” program worth $1 million for wealthy immigrants.
According to Lutnick, the steep fee serves to eliminate the “abuse” of the H-1B system and push companies to evaluate whether foreign workers are worth the added expense or if they should hire American citizens instead. Critics argue that the move could severely impact innovation and hinder the contribution of skilled foreign workers who have long supported U.S. industry growth.
Top companies involved in H-1B hiring include both U.S. tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Apple, as well as Indian firms such as Infosys, Cognizant, TCS, and Wipro. Lawmakers and industry leaders are now considering the wider implications of the policy shift.
