Trump Proposes $103,265 H-1B Visa Fee, Raising Costs for Indian Applicants

The Trump administration has proposed raising the H-1B visa fee to $103,265, a move that could significantly impact Indian professionals seeking to work in the United States. The H-1B programme allows US employers to recruit skilled foreign workers in specialised fields. Each year, the programme allocates 65,000 visas, with an additional 20,000 reserved for candidates holding advanced degrees. Visas under this programme are typically granted for periods ranging from three to six years. The proposed fee hike is expected to make the pathway considerably more expensive for Indian aspirants, who form a large share of H-1B applicants.