India Expresses Concern Over New US H-1B Visa Fee's Humanitarian Impact

Fri Oct 17 2025 08:33:09 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The Indian government warns that the newly imposed $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applicants will disrupt families and cause humanitarian consequences, amidst rising tensions over US immigration policies.

In response to President Trump's implementation of a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications, the Indian government has expressed grave concerns about the potential humanitarian consequences. This change, significantly increasing costs for skilled worker visas, particularly affects Indian applicants, who comprise over 70% of such visas issued. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs highlights potential disruptions to families while urging US authorities to reconsider these actions. Meanwhile, US tech companies are advising H-1B visa holders on how to navigate these new regulations amidst ongoing trade negotiations between the two nations.

The Indian government has said a new $100,000 (£74,000) fee for applicants seeking US skilled worker visas will have humanitarian consequences.

President Donald Trump on Friday ordered the new fee for H-1B visa applications, which is more than 60 times the amount currently charged, to go into effect on 21 September.

Workers from India receive by far the most skilled visas in the programme, accounting for just over 70% of those issued.

Some US tech companies reportedly advised employees with H-1B visas to stay in the US or, if they were out of the country, to try to return immediately. The White House then clarified that the fee will not apply to current visas or renewal applications.

A statement from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday stated that the fee would have humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families. The Indian government hopes that these disruptions can be suitably addressed by the US authorities.

The exchange of skilled workers has contributed enormously to both nations, the statement said, emphasizing the mutual benefits and strong people-to-people ties.

The statement did not provide specifics on any potential response from India's government.

Since Trump imposed tariffs on India last month for purchasing Russian oil, both countries have been in tense trade negotiations. The US exported $41.5bn worth of goods to India in 2024, importing more than double that amount, $87.3bn.

On Saturday, the Indian government announced that commerce minister Piyush Goyal will visit the US on Monday for trade talks.

India's leading trade body, Nasscom, noted that such a significant change to the H-1B programme created considerable uncertainty for businesses, professionals, and students across the world.

The White House cited data suggesting some H-1B visas are being abused to undercut American wages and outsource IT jobs, justifying the policy change.

However, the order allows for case-by-case exemptions if in the national interest.

The skilled visa route is intended for US companies to employ foreign workers with highly specialised knowledge. In 2024, just under 400,000 H-1B visas were approved, of which around 260,000 were renewals.

Data from US Citizenship and Immigration Services shows that in the first half of 2025, Amazon received the most H-1B visa approvals with 10,044, followed by Indian technology company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) with 5,505.

Trump's proclamation specifies that applications from workers currently outside the US will require a $100,000 fee.

Amazon, Microsoft, and JP Morgan advised their H-1B visa employees to remain in the US or return quickly if overseas, despite uncertainties created by the order.

According to internal advisories, Amazon warned employees unable to return before the deadline to avoid re-entering the US until further guidance is provided.