A recent proclamation by President Donald Trump is set to dramatically alter the landscape for Indian professionals working in the United States. The administration has imposed a substantial annual fee of $100,000 for H-1B visas, a move that has been widely criticized by American lawmakers and community leaders as both ‘reckless’ and ‘unfortunate’. President Trump justified the ‘Restriction on entry of certain non-immigrant workers’ by stating that the current H-1B visa program poses a ‘national security threat’ due to alleged abuses.
This drastic fee increase is specifically designed, according to the Trump administration, to ensure that only ‘truly extraordinary people’ with ‘very highly skilled’ capabilities are brought into the country, thereby protecting American jobs and preventing the replacement of domestic workers. Companies, who typically sponsor H-1B applicants, will now bear this significantly higher cost.
In response to the impending changes, which are slated to take effect at 12:01 am on September 21, immigration attorneys and various companies are issuing urgent advice: H-1B visa holders and their family members currently outside the U.S. for work or vacation must return within the next 24 hours. Failure to do so could result in them being denied re-entry and left stranded outside the country.
The impact of these new regulations will be felt across the technology sector, particularly among companies that heavily rely on H-1B visas. Data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reveals that many tech giants employ a substantial number of H-1B workers. As of June 2025, Amazon led the pack with 10,044 H-1B visa holders, followed by TCS with 5,505 approved visas. Other prominent beneficiaries include Microsoft (5,189), Meta (5,123), Apple (4,202), Google (4,181), Deloitte (2,353), Infosys (2,004), Wipro (1,523), and Tech Mahindra Americas (951).
The policy change is expected to trigger widespread discussions on its implications for U.S. innovation and the global technology workforce, with some experts predicting a shift in where future patent development and technological advancements will occur.