US Exempts Existing Indian H-1B Visa Holders From $100,000 Fee, Easing Fears For Techies

In a major reprieve for thousands of Indian professionals and students, the Trump administration has clarified that the newly introduced $100,000 H-1B visa fee will not apply to existing visa holders or those already in the United States on valid visas.

The clarification from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) comes after widespread confusion following President Donald Trump’s proclamation last month mandating the steep annual fee, about Rs 90 lakh, for employers sponsoring technically skilled foreign workers.

The rule was set to take effect on 21 September, sparking panic among Indian workers, employers, and immigration lawyers.

In its latest guidance, the USCIS stated that the fee “does not apply to any previously issued and currently valid H-1B visas, or any petitions submitted prior to 12:01 a.m. ET on September 21, 2025.”

It further confirmed that international graduates already in the US and applying for a change of status, such as F-1 visa holders transitioning to H-1B, are also exempt.

The agency also reassured that current H-1B holders can “continue traveling in and out of the United States without restriction,” addressing a major concern among visa holders.

The decision brings relief to Indian tech professionals, who constitute around 70 per cent of new H-1B visa allocations.

Nearly 300,000 Indians are currently working in the US under the programme, which allows skilled workers to live and work for up to six years.

Experts had warned that the proposed fee, 20 to 100 times higher than current visa costs, could have “effectively killed the H-1B programme.”

The clarification is therefore expected to ease tensions both in India and among US-based technology firms that rely heavily on Indian talent.

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