$100,000 H-1B Visa Fee One-Time Payment For Only New Applicants, Not Annual: White House

Last Updated:September 21, 2025, 08:18 IST

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday imposing a $100,000 application fee for H-1B visa petitions, which is expected to impact Indian workers.

Under a proclamation that takes effect on 21 September 2025, employers will now need to pay a $100,000 fee for every H-1B worker entering the US.

Indians, who are currently H-1B visa holders, can breathe a sigh of relief and do not need to rush back to the United States.

The White House on Saturday issued a major clarification to its new H-1B visa policy as panic swept through the tech industry. It said this fee will be a “one-time" payment for only new applicants, and not an annual “panic swept the do not need to rush back to America by Sunday (September 21) or pay $100,000 to re-enter the country, as the new H-1B visa rules are only for new visa holders, an unnamed senior US administration official told news agency ANI.

US President Donald Trump signed a new executive order on Friday that imposes a $100,000 annual application fee for all H-1B visa petitions, which is expected to impact thousands of Indians, who make up the largest share of H-1B visa holders in the US.

After the order, tech giants such as Microsoft and Amazon issued advisories, calling on all H-1B and H-4 visa holders to return to the United States by Sunday (September 21) and stay in the country for the foreseeable future.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows U.S. companies to hire foreign professionals in speciality occupations that require technical or theoretical expertise, such as in IT, engineering, finance, healthcare, and science. It is one of the most common ways for skilled workers from countries like India and China to work in the US temporarily.

Chaos At US Airports

After the President’s order, several Indians began deboarding flights back to India for Navratri celebrations, resulting in chaos at several US airports. Several passengers began panicking after hearing about the new visa fees, and some reports said flight prices have soared due to several Indian workers returning to the United States.

Companies in India advised employees on the H-1B visas who were outside the US to return before midnight on Saturday, 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.

From 12:01 am ET on September 21, no new H-1B worker can enter the US unless the sponsoring employer pays a $100,000 fee. Employers must provide proof of this fee, and the Departments of State and Homeland Security have been directed to reject any petition that does not include it. The restriction will remain in force for 12 months, unless extended.

The recent announcement is expected to impact Indian IT industries. Shares of Infosys and Wipro fell by up to 4.5% in the US after President Trump took steps targeting Indian IT firms, affecting their American Depositary Receipts (ADRs).

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