Ankur Nikam
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa for specialty occupations like IT, tech, and engineering. It allows temporary U.S. work for up to six years.
A new proclamation introduces a staggering $100,000 annual fee, replacing previous costs of just a few thousand dollars.
The administration's stated goal is to ensure only "truly highly skilled" talent enters the U.S. and to discourage companies from using foreign professionals to replace American workers.
India is the largest recipient of H1B visas, with Indian nationals accounting for the vast majority of all approvals.
Indian IT firms, which rely on the H1B program to send workers to the U.S., now face a monumental increase in costs, potentially forcing a complete rethink of their business models.
The cost is now so high that companies may only sponsor "truly extraordinary" people. This could limit opportunities for thousands of professionals, especially new graduates.
With a potential roadblock to working in the U.S., more Indian tech graduates may choose to stay and build their careers in India, fueling the domestic tech boom.
Nations with more favourable immigration policies, like Canada, the UK, and Germany, are becoming increasingly attractive alternatives for skilled Indian professionals.
The new fee is likely to face legal challenges, and its long-term future remains uncertain. For now, it represents a massive shift that has changed the landscape for international tech talent.