US again eyes $100k H-1B fee: How Indian workers, IT firms will be hit

The US administration is set to propose an additional $103,265 fee on every H-1B visa petition subject to the annual visa cap, following a federal court ruling that struck down a similar $100,000 charge imposed by the Trump administration. The move, which would be paid by sponsoring employers, comes as the H-1B program faces scrutiny over its impact on American workers.

H-1B visas allow US employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations, typically requiring a bachelor's degree or higher. Indians make up the largest group of H-1B visa holders, accounting for 71% of all approved petitions in the past year. The proposed fee estimates to generate around $8.8 billion annually and aims to make employers less likely to hire H-1B workers without genuine need for their specialized skills.