Trump’s executive order imposes a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applicants, sparking concerns across the tech industry and among foreign workers.
A new executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump introduces a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications, raising concerns among global tech companies and Indian IT service providers.
The White House clarified on Saturday that the policy, which takes effect Sunday, will not affect existing visa holders re-entering the country or those renewing their permits. “This is a one-time fee,” a White House official said, noting that the measure applies only to new applicants in the upcoming H-1B lottery cycle.
Indian IT industry body Nasscom warned the move could disrupt the operations of companies that depend on deploying skilled workers to the U.S. Major firms including Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet advised employees on H-1B visas to avoid international travel amid uncertainty, according to internal memos seen by Reuters.
On social media, many H-1B workers described rushing back to the U.S. to avoid potential penalties.
THIS WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON REUTERS