India Engages US on Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee Hike

India has opened diplomatic discussions with the Trump administration and key stakeholders as the United States frames new rules to implement its decision to raise the application fee for H-1B visas to an unprecedented USD 100,000.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed concern that the proposed H-1B visa fee hike could significantly impact Indian nationals, who have consistently made up nearly 70% of H-1B recipients in recent years.

“We have seen the notice by the US Department of Homeland Security regarding the proposed rulemaking. Stakeholders, including industry, now have one month to provide their comments,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during his weekly briefing.

Jaiswal emphasized that the mobility of skilled talent has long been a cornerstone of innovation, economic growth, and wealth creation in both nations. “We remain engaged with all concerned, hoping these factors receive due consideration,” he added.

A Strain on India–US Ties

The proposed fee increase comes at a time of rising trade tensions, with Washington recently slapping 50% tariffs on Indian goods. Additionally, the US has announced that from October 1, pharmaceutical products, large trucks, and furniture imported from India will face 100% tariffs.

The MEA confirmed that Indian ministers are actively raising these concerns with their US counterparts. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal held talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 22.

“The focus of the discussion was on trade and tariffs. Other aspects of our bilateral relationship were also reviewed,” Jaiswal noted.

A Blow to Indian Tech Talent

The H-1B visa fee hike is seen as part of the Trump administration’s broader push to tighten immigration and foreign worker programs.

Currently, H-1B visa sponsors pay between USD 2,000 and USD 5,000, depending on company size and additional surcharges. Raising the cost to USD 100,000 per application would mark a 20-fold increase, potentially discouraging US companies from hiring skilled Indian professionals.

For India’s thriving IT and technology services sector—which has historically relied on H-1B visas to place engineers and developers in the US—such a policy could severely impact talent mobility, competitiveness, and innovation exchanges between the two countries.

India: An Evolving Situation

The US Department of Homeland Security has issued clarifications and FAQs on how the proposed rules would apply to fresh H-1B applications. However, officials admit the situation is still “evolving.”

“As to how it’s going to play out, this remains fluid, and we are engaged at multiple levels—including the Indian Embassy in Washington and our diplomatic channels,” Jaiswal said.

India continues to hope that economic logic and the mutual benefits of skilled talent mobility will weigh into the final decision.

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