Last Updated on September 21, 2025 9:31 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
WEB DESK
The White House has clarified that a new $100,000 fee for H-1B visas will take effect from Sunday but will apply only to new petitions, not to existing visa holders re-entering the United States.
“This is NOT an annual fee. It’s a one-time fee that applies only to the petition,” White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt posted on X on Saturday. She added that current H-1B holders travelling abroad will not be charged the fee on re-entry.
The clarification came a day after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested the fee might be annual. Several firms including Microsoft, JPMorgan, and Amazon had advised their H-1B employees to avoid international travel, Reuters reported, while a Goldman Sachs memo urged staff to exercise caution.
The $100,000 petition fee was imposed by President Donald Trump’s proclamation signed on Friday. The White House said it is aimed at “levelling the playing field” for American workers, who are often replaced by lower-paid foreign talent.
India’s IT industry body Nasscom warned that the move could disrupt the global operations of Indian technology firms that send skilled professionals to the U.S.
According to official data, H-1B visa holders now account for over 65% of IT workers, up from 32% in 2003.
Indian Embassy in Washington Releases Emergency Number for H-1B Visa Fee Announcement
In Washington, the Indian Embassy has released an emergency assistance number for Indian nationals in need of immediate support following the US President Trump’s announcement of annual fee of 100,000 dollors on H-1B visa applications. In a social media post the Indian embassy has said that Indian nationals seeking emergency assistance may call cell number +1-202-550-9931 and WhatsApp. This number should be used only by Indian nationals seeking immediate emergency assistance and not for routine consular queries.
Meanwhile, the Indian government has instructed all its Missions and Posts to provide every possible assistance to Indian nationals who are scheduled to return to the United States in the next 24 hours.
United States President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation imposing an annual fee of $100,000 on H-1B visa applications. A senior official from the US administration clarified that the steep fee would apply only to fresh H-1B visa petitions and not to existing holders or those seeking renewals.
The measure has raised serious concerns regarding its implications on Indian tech professionals and the flow of remittances, with nearly 71 per cent of all H-1B visas being granted to Indian citizens.