• By Soumyaroop Mukherjee
  • Sat, 20 Sep 2025 03:10 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND
Add as a preferred

H-1B Visa Row: The Trump administration announced an annual processing fee of USD 1,00,000 to the existing fees of H-1B visas. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that the fees will be applicable for the entire tenure of the visa, with ‘specific details’ still awaited. This has left major American tech companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and TCS in a tight spot, who have relied on this program for a long time to recruit major tech talent. Amazon is also the biggest employer of H-1B holders.

H-1B visas are already expensive, with the cost ranging from about USD 1,700 to USD 4,500, depending on whether the visa is expedited. With visas typically valid for three years and renewable up to six, the new USD 100,000 annual fee could make it expensive for companies to retain Indian professionals.

ALSO READ: Flights Chaos In Europe: Cyberattack Cripples Airline Systems, Heathrow And Brussels Airports Hit By Major Delays

Tech Giants Sound Alert Bells For H-1B Visa Holders

Amazon, which recruits the largest tech talent from outside, has already advised its H-1B visa holder employees to ‘avoid’ international travel and remain in the country. According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) database, the company has 10,044 employees with H-1B visas working for the company.

According to a report by Reuters, the company, in its note to employees, said, “If you have H-1B status and are in the US, stay in the country for now.” "Amazon recommends H-1B and H-4 visa holders to return to the US before 12:00 am EDT Sept 21," the note added.

Similar situations are there at the Tata Consultancy Services, JP Morgan, Microsoft, Google, and Deloitte, which have been the largest beneficiaries of the H-1B. India received the largest number of approvals for the H-1B visas last year, which stood at 71% as per government data cited by Reuters.

Microsoft also issued an internal email advising caution, stating that H-1B and H-4 visa holders should stay in the US for the foreseeable future and strongly recommended they return before the deadline.

"H-1B visa holders should stay in the US for the foreseeable future. We also recommend H-4 visa holders remain in the US. We strongly recommend that all H-1B and H-4 visa holders return to the US by tomorrow, before the deadline," Microsoft said in its email to employees.

ALSO READ: PM Modi Bats For Self-Reliance Amid US Tariffs, Visa Concerns, Says 'Dependence On Other Countries Biggest Enemy Of India'

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has also advised its employees not to leave America. TCS is the second-highest beneficiary with over 5,000 approved H-1B visas in 2025, after Amazon.

According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Amazon had 10,044 workers using H-1B visas as of June 2025. Coming in at the second spot was TCS with 5,505 H-1B visas approved. Other top beneficiaries include Microsoft (5189), Meta (5123), Apple (4202), Google (4181), Deloitte (2353), Infosys (2004), Wipro (1523) and Tech Mahindra Americas (951).

ALSO READ: Jaish-E-Mohammad Renamed To Al-Murabitun: How Masood Azhar’s Terror Outfit Is Trying To Fool The World

What Trump Announced Regarding H-1B Visas?

Signing a new executive order, US President Donald Trump announced that an annual fee of USD 100,000 will be imposed on H-1B visa applications. The proclamation, titled "Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers", will come into effect on September 21. As per the order, employers must now provide proof of payment when filing H-1B petitions, with enforcement overseen by the US Departments of State and Homeland Security.

ALSO READ: Want To Work In US? Trump Just Made H-1B Visas $100,000 Costlier: Here's What It Means For Indian Tech Workers

The high fees imposed on H-1B visa applications further aim to combat what the administration calls widespread abuse of the H-1B programme, particularly by IT outsourcing firms accused of displacing American workers and suppressing wages.

The H-1B program offers 65,000 visas annually to employers bringing in temporary foreign workers in specialised fields, with another 20,000 visas for workers with advanced degrees.