Trump Plan Targets H-1B Visa Extensions with Higher Fees

The Trump administration is proposing to increase the cost of H-1B and L-1 visa extensions for US employers, which could have a significant impact on Indian professionals working in America. The proposal would require companies to pay an additional $4,000 for H-1B petitions and $4,500 for L-1 petitions not only when hiring new foreign workers or changing employers but also every time they seek to extend an employee's stay.

Currently, the 9-11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee is paid by certain employers when filing H-1B or L-1 visa petitions. This fee was introduced under Public Law 114-113 in 2015 and originally applied to specific H-1B and L-1 petitions, such as initial applications and certain employer changes.

Indian nationals receive the largest share of H-1B visas issued every year, making them the group most likely to be affected if the proposal is implemented. According to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Indian nationals in America account for nearly 70% of approximately 85,000 H-1B visas issued annually.