$103,265 Fee for H-1B Visas Proposed by Trump Administration

The Trump administration has proposed a new regulation that would make permanent a $103,265 fee for H-1B visas. This is more than six times the previous maximum fee of $5,000. The proposal aims to cover the costs of processing and administering these visas.

However, experts warn that this move will have a devastating impact on Indian professionals who rely on H-1B visas to work in the US. According to Xiao Wang, CEO of Boundless Immigration, 'the $103K fee doesn't apply to students changing status inside the US or to in-country employer transfers.' He added that 'it lands squarely on workers coming in from abroad,' which is the profile of most Indian IT professionals entering on new H-1Bs.

The proposed regulation will also introduce a wage-weighted lottery system, favoring senior candidates. With this change, entry-level engineers may find it difficult to secure an H-1B visa due to the high fees and increased competition. Employers are already becoming more selective about whom they enter in the H-1B lottery.

The path to getting an H-1B visa is becoming increasingly unpredictable. The Department of Homeland Security is moving forward with a proposal to remove the 60-day grace period for H-1B workers who lose their jobs. This would leave affected workers with a much shorter immigration window and make them more reliant on their sponsoring employer.