Subhechcha Ganguly 
In a major relief to thousands of Indian professionals and students in the United States, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has clarified that the newly introduced $100,000 H-1B visa fee, announced last month by President Donald Trump, will not apply to existing visa holders or recent international graduates already in the country.
The clarification comes after weeks of uncertainty following Trump’s proclamation mandating a steep annual fee — roughly ₹90 lakh — for employers sponsoring foreign skilled workers, set to take effect on September 21, 2025.
According to the latest USCIS guidance, the fee exemption extends to those currently on valid visas, including F-1 student visa holders, L-1 transferees, and H-1B professionals seeking renewals or status changes. The agency also confirmed that existing visa holders can continue to travel freely in and out of the US, addressing widespread concerns among Indian workers and employers.
The move brings major relief to the Indian tech community, which forms the backbone of the H-1B program. Indians make up nearly 70% of new H-1B visa recipients, with around 300,000 Indian professionals currently working in the US, primarily in technology and service sectors.
The H-1B visa allows skilled foreign workers to live and work in the US for up to three years, extendable for another three, with 85,000 new visas issued annually through a lottery system.
