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23-09-2025
Bureau Report
NEW DELHI: Imposing a new $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications could disrupt the global operations of Indian technology services companies that deploy skilled professionals to the United States, India’s IT industry body Nasscom said on Saturday.
The White House announced the new fee on Friday, prompting some major US tech firms to advise visa holders to either remain in the country or return there quickly. The new fee marks Washington’s most high-profile attempt to overhaul the country’s temporary employment visa system.
Nasscom, representing India’s $283 billion IT and business process outsourcing industry, said the abrupt rollout of the policy would impact Indian nationals and disrupt continuity of ongoing onshore projects for the country’s technology services firms.
The industry body said the one-day deadline for the new policy created “considerable uncertainty for businesses, professionals and students across the world.”
It also said the new policy could have “ripple effects” on the US innovation ecosystem and on global job markets, pointing out that for companies, “additional cost will require adjustments”.
Microsoft, opens new tab, JPMorgan, opens new tab and Amazon, opens new tab responded to the announcement by advising employees holding H-1B visas to remain in the United States, according to internal emails reviewed by media.
Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has launched a broad crackdown on immigration, including efforts to limit certain forms of legal immigration.
Earlier, the Trump administration said it would ask companies to pay $100,000 per year for H-1B worker visas, prompting some big tech companies to warn visa holders to stay in the US or quickly return. The change could deal a big blow to the technology sector that relies heavily on skilled workers from India and China.
Since taking office in January, Trump has kicked off a wide-ranging immigration crackdown, including moves to limit some forms of legal immigration. The step to reshape the H-1B visa program represents his administration’s most high-profile effort yet to rework temporary employment visas.
“If you’re going to train somebody, you’re going to train one of the recent graduates from one of the great universities across our land,” said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Train Americans. Stop bringing in people to take our jobs.”
Trump’s threat to crack down on H-1B visas has become a major flashpoint with the tech industry, which contributed millions of dollars to his presidential campaign.
Microsoft, opens new tab, JPMorgan, opens new tab and Amazon, opens new tab responded to the announcement by advising employees holding H-1B visas to remain in the United States, according to internal emails reviewed by media.
They advised employees on the H-1B visas who were outside the US to return before midnight on Saturday (0400 GMT on Sunday), when the new fee structures are set to take effect.
“H-1B visa holders who are currently in the US should remain in the US and avoid international travel until the government issues clear travel guidance,” read an email sent to JPMorgan employees by Ogletree Deakins, a company that handles visa applications for the US investment bank.
Microsoft, JPMorgan, law firm Ogletree Deakins, which represents the bank on the issue and Amazon, opens new tab did not immediately respond to media requests for comment.
