US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications could severely impact Indian professionals, who make up nearly 72% of the total H-1B workforce, according to a report by The Hindu published on September 20.
Data shows that 60% of Indian H-1B holders earned $100,000 or less in FY24. Of these, about 12% earned below $75,000, while 47% were in the $75,000–$100,000 range. Only 40% of Indian workers made more than $100,000 annually.
In comparison, 60% of non-Indian H-1B workers had salaries above $100,000. The median annual pay for Indian H-1B employees stood at $95,000 in 2024 — the lowest among all nationalities, the report said.
The sharp hike in fees could disproportionately affect Indian applicants, given their dominant share in the H-1B pool. Currently, the US issues 65,000 H-1B visas annually, along with an additional 20,000 for candidates holding master’s or higher degrees from American institutions. Existing visa fees range between $2,000 and $5,000 depending on employer size and compliance costs.
In response, the Indian government has directed its Missions and Posts to provide urgent assistance to nationals travelling back to the US within the next 24 hours.
(With agency inputs)
