Trump imposes $100,000 fee on H-1B skilled worker visas

United States President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation requiring a $100,000 fee per year for companies seeking to sponsor H-1B worker visas.

The United States has delivered a major blow to Indian workers as President Donald Trump signed an executive order on September 19, 2025, imposing a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas, effective from September 21.

I repeat, India has a weak PM. https://t.co/N0EuIxQ1XG pic.twitter.com/AEu6QzPfYH

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— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 20, 2025

The H-1B visa, meant for skilled workers, has been widely used by Indian citizens, making them the most affected by the new policy. Many Indian students, who took loans of 40–50 lakhs to study in the US with the hope of securing jobs through H-1B visas, now face a harsh reality. With the new financial burden, their only option may be to return to India with heavy debts.

Tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft, which depend heavily on H-1B workers from India and China, are also bracing for higher costs and challenges in retaining talent. The decision has triggered outrage among Indians on social media, with many calling it a devastating setback for those living and working in the US.