The US government has proposed raising the H-1B visa fee to $103,265, a move that has drawn strong opposition from India's IT industry body NASSCOM, according to reports from The Hindu and ThePrint.
The proposed fee increase, reported by multiple Indian outlets including Hindustan Times, would apply to skilled foreign workers seeking H-1B visas. NASSCOM, which represents India's technology and software services sector, has responded critically to the Department of Homeland Security's proposal, The Hindu reports.
The Quint notes that the $103,000 fee proposal follows a court defeat for the Trump administration on immigration matters, suggesting the fee structure could be a way to work around that legal setback. Hindustan Times reports that the visa changes are among several US immigration moves that Indian nationals need to track, including potential charges for Optional Practical Training (OPT) for students completing degrees in the US.
Telegraph India reports that the H-1B program itself is facing looming changes that skilled foreign workers should understand. The program has long been a primary route for Indian tech professionals to work in the United States.
The proposed fee represents a significant increase from current levels, though the exact current fee is not specified in the reporting. The Hindustan Times article frames these changes as part of a broader set of US visa policy shifts affecting Indian workers and students.
Industry opposition from NASSCOM signals potential legal or political challenges ahead. The coming weeks will show whether the fee proposal advances or faces revision after public comment and industry pushback.
