Washington/New Delhi, September 21(HS): In a significant late-night clarification, the White House announced on Saturday that President Donald Trump’s controversial $100,000 fee hike for H-1B visa applications will be imposed only on new applicants, allaying widespread panic among the thousands of skilled professionals already holding valid visas. The executive order, taking effect Sunday, marks a seismic shift in America’s global talent policy, though current H-1B holders re-entering or renewing their visas are exempt from the astronomical charge.

The ruling triggered urgent advisories by leading technology giants—including Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet—urging Indian employees abroad to return before the deadline or risk being charged the new fee. Immigration attorneys reported a surge in last-minute flight bookings and industry groups such as Nasscom warned of abrupt disruptions for both U.S. and Indian tech firms reliant on global talent pipelines. Despite ongoing uncertainties, the administration assured that “the $100,000 is a one-time fee for new cases only, sparing those already in the system but potentially dampening future applications.

Indian officials and business leaders have expressed concern that the move threatens innovation, global competitiveness, and cross-border business continuity. As industry scrambles to adapt and the ripple effects take shape, policymakers in both countries are now assessing the long-term impact on skilled worker mobility and the US-India economic partnership.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar