Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Nasscom Warns Proposed H-1B Fee Could Limit Skilled Talent
The United States has proposed a very large extra fee for some H-1B work visa applications.
The fee would be $103,265 for each covered application.
It would apply even to some workers with advanced degrees from U.S. schools.
Companies would pay it on top of other visa fees.
The government says the money would help pay for immigration services and encourage companies to hire and train Americans.
Nasscom says H-1B visas help companies fill temporary shortages of skilled workers.
Nasscom also says Indian technology companies have hired more workers in the United States and now rely less on these visas.
The public has 30 days to comment before the proposal can be finalized.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security proposed an additional $103,265 fee for every cap-subject H-1B petition.
The fee would also apply to petitions for workers eligible for the advanced-degree exemption and would be added to existing charges.
DHS says the levy would recover immigration-system costs and encourage employers to hire and train American workers.
Nasscom says H-1B visas address temporary U.S. skill shortages and that Indian technology firms have reduced reliance through increased local hiring.
DHS estimates the fee could raise about $8.8 billion annually from 85,000 petitions, while public comments are open for 30 days.
- Who
- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Trump administration, employers seeking H-1B workers, and Nasscom.
- What
- A proposed additional $103,265 fee for cap-subject H-1B petitions.
- When
- The proposal was announced Monday, Nasscom responded Tuesday, and public comments are invited for 30 days.
- Where
- The proposal concerns the United States’ H-1B visa and legal immigration systems.
- Why
- DHS says the fee would recover immigration-system costs and promote American hiring and training; Nasscom says H-1B visas help address temporary U.S. skill shortages.
Nasscom and Industry Perspective
U.S. Administration Perspective
Purpose of H-1B visas
Nasscom and Industry Perspective
Nasscom says the program provides access to temporary skills needed to address short-term shortages in the United States.
U.S. Administration Perspective
The administration says the proposed fee would encourage employers to hire and train American workers rather than rely on foreign labor.
Effect on skilled-worker access
Nasscom and Industry Perspective
Nasscom warns that the increase could affect access to skilled foreign talent, while noting that Indian technology firms have already reduced H-1B reliance through increased U.S. hiring.
U.S. Administration Perspective
DHS proposes applying the fee to every cap-subject petition, including advanced-degree-exemption filings, to raise funds and recover immigration-system costs.
Industry contributions and government costs
Nasscom and Industry Perspective
Nasscom highlights more than $1.1 billion invested in the U.S. STEM pipeline through education partnerships, student programs, and employee upskilling.
U.S. Administration Perspective
DHS says the revenue would help cover adjudications, fraud detection, national-security screening, system modernization, and record collection.
- Proposed additional fee
- $103,265 per cap-subject H-1B petition
- Scope
- All cap-subject petitions, including those eligible for the advanced-degree exemption
- Payment
- Paid by employers when filing, in addition to other applicable fees
- Estimated annual revenue
- About $8.8 billion
- Projected petitions
- 85,000 cap-subject petitions annually
- Annual allocation
- 65,000 regular visas plus 20,000 places for qualifying foreign nationals with advanced degrees from U.S. institutions
- Nasscom investment
- More than $1.1 billion for STEM initiatives involving over 130 universities and colleges, 2.9 million students, and more than 255,000 employees upskilled
Sources
H-1B visa fee hike: Nasscom says actively engaged with all key stakeholders
$103,265 H-1B levy may push Indian IT firms towards local hiring: Nasscom
Nasscom Raises Alarm Over Proposed $103,265 H-1B Fee, Warns Of Impact On Skilled Talent Access In US
