The dream of working in the US has become much more expensive.
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that restricts the entry of H-1B visa holders and raises the visa application fee to $100,000 (about ₹88 lakh) per year.
This move could be a big setback for Indian professionals, as the H-1B program allows US companies to hire foreign workers for specialized, high-skilled jobs that Americans or permanent residents may not fill.
Under the new order, companies will now have to pay $100,000 annually to the government, in addition to the employee’s salary — making the process significantly more costly than before.
Why the Decision Was Taken
During an event at the Oval Office, US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross explained that the $100,000 annual fee was decided after discussions with major companies.
According to him, the government’s goal is to push companies to hire American workers instead of relying on foreign talent.
Ross noted that paying such a high government fee, along with employee salaries, would not be practical for most companies.
The intention, he said, is to encourage firms to train and employ US graduates and reduce dependency on workers from abroad.
He added that this is the official policy and that large tech companies have expressed support for it.
Impact on Businesses and Workers
According to US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the new cost structure makes hiring foreign employees economically unviable for many companies.
This is a major challenge for the US tech sector, which relies heavily on skilled workers from countries like India and China.
Meanwhile, White House staff secretary Will Scharf clarified that the new policy does not ban foreign workers entirely but ensures that only highly skilled professionals, who cannot be replaced by Americans, are allowed entry under the H-1B program.
