Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee Shocks Indian Tech Workers and US Giants

The global tech industry has been shaken after US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications, a drastic escalation in America’s immigration and labor policies.

The move, announced just hours ago, has already sent shockwaves across Silicon Valley, Indian IT firms, and thousands of skilled workers who rely on the H-1B program to work in the United States.

What Happened?

• Trump’s Proclamation: President Trump declared that all H-1B visa applications will now carry an annual fee of $100,000 per worker, payable by the employer.

• Effective Date: The new fee structure will apply from September 21, 2025.

• Reason Cited: Trump justified the fee hike citing national security concerns and the need to ensure US workers are prioritized. He labeled the “abuse” of the H-1B system as a threat to American jobs and security.

• New ‘Gold Card’ Visa: Alongside this, Trump announced a new “Gold Card” fast-track residency visa for wealthy or highly skilled immigrants, priced at $1 million.

Immediate Fallout

• Tech Giants Panic

  • Microsoft, Meta, and Google have issued 24-hour return-to-US notices to all foreign H-1B employees, asking them not to leave the country to avoid re-entry complications.

  • Microsoft specifically warned Indian employees abroad to return before the weekend deadline.

  • Meta reportedly told its H-1B workers: “Return within 24 hours, don’t leave the US.”

• Indian IT Industry in Crisis

  • Indian IT giants such as TCS, Infosys, Wipro, and HCL face huge financial strain, as fees could run into billions annually.

  • Mint reports that the revised H-1B fees could amount to 10% of the profits of five top Indian IT firms.

• Worker Uncertainty

  • Thousands of Indian engineers, students, and skilled workers on H-1B visas fear job losses, layoffs, or forced relocation.

  • Many are questioning if the “American Dream” is slipping away for Indian professionals.

Who Holds the Most H-1B Visas?

Contrary to popular belief, it isn’t Infosys or TCS that hold the maximum H-1B visas. According to reports, Amazon currently tops the list, followed by TCS and other IT service companies.

This means US tech giants may suffer more than Indian IT firms, as they rely heavily on H-1B workers to fill critical roles in AI, software engineering, and data sciences.

Reactions So Far

• Indian Government: Officials in New Delhi are “closely monitoring” the situation and may raise the issue diplomatically with Washington.

• Former Indian Diplomat Anil Trigunayat called the move “a regressive step” that will hurt both economies.

• Tech Firms: Companies like Microsoft and Google have warned of “severe talent shortages” if the policy continues.

• Workers: Many employees are rushing to consult immigration lawyers to understand if fees apply during re-entry or only at the time of application.

Trump’s “Talent Dilemma”

While Trump argues the move will protect US jobs, experts believe it could backfire badly:

• Talent Drain Risk: High-skilled foreign workers may choose Canada, Europe, or Australia instead of the US.

• Innovation Slowdown: US companies could lose their competitive edge in AI, cloud, and emerging technologies.

• Economic Impact: The visa fee may deter small startups from hiring global talent, hurting America’s innovation ecosystem.

As The New Indian Express noted, this is Trump’s “talent dilemma” — a policy aimed at protecting jobs but potentially undermining America’s tech leadership.

What Does It Mean for Indians?

• For Indian IT Firms: Costs will skyrocket. A company sponsoring 10,000 H-1B employees would pay $1 billion per year in fees.

• For Indian Students: With talk of scrapping OPT (Optional Practical Training) programs, future job prospects in the US look uncertain.

• For Skilled Workers: Many may reconsider moving to the US, shifting instead to Canada’s Express Entry or Europe’s Blue Card programs.

The Bigger Immigration Picture

Trump’s administration is reshaping immigration policy with two big changes:

• High Cost for Skilled Visas (H-1B at $100k).

• Fast-Track for Wealthy Migrants (Gold Card at $1M).

This essentially creates a divide between “elite” immigrants who can pay their way in and skilled professionals who can’t afford the fees.

Conclusion

The $100,000 H-1B visa fee marks a seismic shift in US immigration policy. While Trump defends it as a step to safeguard American jobs and national security, it risks alienating the very talent pool that has driven America’s technological dominance for decades.

For Indian workers, students, and IT companies, the American Dream now comes with a staggering price tag. The coming weeks will reveal whether US tech firms lobby against the move — or if Indian talent begins charting new paths beyond America’s borders.