Indian professionals working in the US on H-1B visas may soon face another challenge.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has expanded the scope of the 9/11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee.
Under the new rule, certain employers will have to pay an additional $4,000 fee for H-1B visa extensions.
For L-1 visa extensions, the fee will be $4,500.
The new rule is scheduled to take effect on September 9, 2026.
Who Will Have to Pay the New Fee?
The new charge will not apply to every company sponsoring H-1B or L-1 workers.
It will apply to employers that have at least 50 employees in the US and where more than 50% of the US workforce is in H-1B, L-1A or L-1B status.
Importantly, the worker will not directly pay this fee.
The employer will be responsible for making the payment.
Until now, this fee was mainly associated with certain situations such as changing employers.
Under the expanded rule, it can also apply when a worker simply extends their visa while continuing with the same company.
Why Is This a Concern for Indian Workers?
The new fee could be particularly important for Indian professionals because many H-1B workers from India face very long waits for US green cards.
Because of the green card backlog, some workers may need to renew or extend their H-1B status multiple times while waiting for permanent residency.
With employers potentially paying $4,000 for each H-1B extension, companies may become more cautious about repeatedly sponsoring certain workers.
This could create additional uncertainty for Indian IT professionals, particularly those working for companies that rely heavily on H-1B and L-1 employees.
Could It Affect Green Card Aspirants?
DHS has said that the new fee is not directly connected to the green card backlog.
However, the additional cost could still create difficulties for workers who are already waiting years for permanent residency.
Some employers may reconsider repeated visa extensions because of the higher cost.
This could put additional pressure on workers to change jobs, find another employer willing to sponsor them, or consider leaving the US.
For Indian professionals already facing long green card waiting periods, the new fee could therefore make staying and working in the US more expensive and uncertain.
