US Clarifies $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee, Eases Concerns for Indian Professionals

The United States has issued a major clarification on the controversial $100,000 H-1B visa fee, bringing relief to thousands of Indian professionals currently working in the country.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Saturday that the fee applies only to new H-1B petitions filed after September 21 and is not an annual charge. Current visa holders, renewals, and reentry cases will not be affected.

“The new H-1B visa requirement applies only to new, prospective petitions that have not yet been filed,” USCIS said in a statement. It further stressed that applications submitted before September 21 remain valid under previous rules.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed the clarification on X, saying:
“To be clear: This is NOT an annual fee. It’s a one-time payment that applies only to the petition. This applies only to new visas, not renewals, and not current visa holders.”

The Trump administration’s initial proclamation, signed on Friday, sparked panic among Indian professionals, who account for over 70 percent of H-1B visa approvals. Many feared they would face repeated financial burdens when traveling or renewing their visas.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs had raised concerns over the “humanitarian consequences” of the move. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the implications were being studied in consultation with Indian industry groups.

President Donald Trump defended the measure, stating it was aimed at ensuring only “very highly skilled” workers enter the U.S. labor market.
“We need workers. We need workers. We need great workers, and this pretty much ensures that that’s what’s going to happen,” Trump said at the signing.

The clarification is expected to calm anxieties among Indian tech workers and companies that rely heavily on H-1B visas to meet skilled workforce demands.