From H-1B fee to OPT charge for job-after-college degree: The US visa moves Indians need to track

The Trump administration has introduced a series of measures targeting US visas, with analysts suggesting that these changes aim to discourage American companies from hiring foreign workers and make immigration more challenging. The proposed changes encompass various aspects, including an increase in fees for H-1B applications and extensions, higher minimum wages, and modifications to the student work program.

On Tuesday, the administration halted visa appointments for applicants worldwide as part of the ongoing immigration crackdown during the Republican leader's second term. The latest developments come as H-1B registrations have already declined significantly, from around 794,000 in 2023 to approximately 344,000 last year. Additionally, the share of US firms willing to hire foreign business school graduates dropped from 55% in 2022 to 29% in 2026, according to a Graduate Management Admission Council survey.

The H-1B fee expansion, set to begin on September 9, will require American employers with 50 or more employees, half of whom are on H-1B or L-1 status, to pay $4,000 for each H-1B visa extension and $4,500 for each L-1 extension. This fee, which was previously limited to new hires and job switches, will now become a recurring charge.

Visa extensions were previously exempt from this fee. The US government estimates that the change will generate around $157.3 million annually. Indian IT companies, in particular, are likely to be affected immediately, as their US businesses rely on engineers working on multi-year onshore stints, often renewed through visa extensions.

Under the revised student visa rule, an F-1 visa, which is typically valid for the duration of the course of study without a fixed cap, will now be limited to a fixed four-year period. Students pursuing longer courses, such as doctorates or medical programs, will have to apply to USCIS for an extension of stay to complete their studies.

The post-completion grace period, which allows students to remain in the country after finishing their course, has been reduced from 60 days to 30 days. The new rule is expected to come into effect on September 15 but remains a "major rule," giving Congress a chance to overturn it through a joint resolution. Indian students, who form a significant portion of US doctoral and medical programs, will be disproportionately impacted by these changes.

Combined with the proposed OPT charge, the tightened four-year window will add an extra layer of complexity and cost to the study-to-work pathway that Indians have traditionally viewed as one of the strongest reasons to pursue higher education in the US.