US raises H1B visa fee to USD 100,000; here is how it impacts Indian tech workers

Hyderabad: Indian tech workers are facing an uncertain future as the United States has increased the H1B visa fee to USD 100,000 per person per year.

“This will stop big tech companies from bringing in foreign workers for jobs,” says Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in a move that will hit Indian tech workers in America

On September 20, White House announced new restrictions for the H1B program, making it mandatory for applications to make a USD 100,000 payment with their petitions.

Here are points that summarize the impact on the Indian techies

1. Proclamation restricts entry for aliens as non-immigrants to perform services in specialty occupations in the H-1B program unless a USD 100,000 payment accompanies their petition

2. Secretary of Homeland Security to restrict approvals for petitions from aliens currently outside the US that are not accompanied by payment, and allow case-by-case exemptions in the national interest

3. Proclamation requires employers to retain documentation of payment remittance, with the Secretary of State verifying payment during the petition process

4. State Department to deny entry to applications on account of non-payment

5. Secretary of Labor to initiate rulemaking to revise prevailing wage levels for the H1B program & directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to initiate rulemaking to prioritize high-skilled, high-paid H-1B workers.

6. Because of the new H1B rules, a tremendous number of talented individuals from different genres are going to be headed back to India.

7. The Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said , that any one applying for H1B New or renewal, will be charged with a fee of $100K " Per Year. However, the official proclamation document signed by President did not imply renewals but says everyone who enters in USA on H1B Visa.

8. H-1B fee of $100,000 is not a one time fee. It is $100,000 per year, every year.