The Donald Trump administration is planning to increase the cost of extending H-1B and L-1 work visas in the US.
If approved, the new rule could raise expenses for American companies that employ foreign skilled workers, including a large number of Indian professionals.
The proposed change would mainly affect companies that regularly file visa extension applications for their employees.
What Is the Proposed Change?
According to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a new rule is being prepared that would apply 9/11 response fees and biometric entry-exit fees to H-1B and L-1 visa extension petitions.
At present, companies with more than 50 employees, where over half of the workforce is on H-1B or L-1 visas, must pay an additional:
$4,000 for H-1B petitions.
$4,500 for L-1 petitions.
These charges currently apply when filing a new petition or when an employee changes employers.
The proposed rule would extend these fees to visa renewal and extension applications as well.
Why This Matters for Indian Professionals
Most H-1B visa holders need to extend their visas after the initial three-year period.
Since Indian professionals receive the largest share of H-1B extensions every year, they are expected to be among the most affected if the proposal becomes law.
According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), 406,685 H-1B petitions were approved in fiscal year 2025.
Out of these:
291,542 were for continuing employment.
226,359 approvals went to Indian nationals.
Indians accounted for 77.6% of all H-1B extension approvals.
China was second with 31,581 approvals.
Big Tech Companies Could Face Higher Costs
The proposed fee increase could significantly affect major technology companies and IT firms that depend on H-1B workers.
According to the National Foundation for American Policy, the companies with the highest number of approved H-1B extension petitions in fiscal year 2025 were:
Amazon – 14,532
TCS – 5,293
Microsoft – 4,863
Meta – 4,740
Apple – 4,610
Google – 4,509
Multinational companies that use L-1 visas to transfer executives, managers, and specialised employees to the US may also see their immigration costs increase.
Proposal Comes After Court Setback
The latest proposal comes after the Trump administration faced a legal setback when a US federal appeals court refused to pause a lower court ruling that struck down a proposed $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas.
If the new extension fee rule is approved, companies hiring foreign professionals could face higher immigration expenses, which may also impact future hiring and visa renewal costs for many Indian employees working in the US.
