3 weeks ago
Trump's proposed H-1B renewal fee hike affects Indian professionals
Some grown-ups from other countries come to work in the United States with a special work permission called an H-1B visa.
Many of these workers come from India.
Right now, big companies sometimes pay an extra fee when a worker first gets this permission.
The Trump administration wants those fees to also apply when workers renew, or extend, their permission.
This means companies would pay more money for workers they already have.
Most H-1B workers ask for an extension after their first three years.
That is why Indian workers would feel the biggest effect, since they make up most of the extension approvals.
Last year, out of every 100 extension approvals, about 78 went to workers from India.
Big companies like Amazon, Google and Microsoft could also pay more.
The new rule is expected to be finalized in July.
The Trump administration proposes extending the '9-11 Response and Biometric Entry Exit Fee' to all H-1B and L-1 visa extension petitions.
The Department of Homeland Security's regulatory agenda expects a final rule in July.
Indian nationals received 226,359 of the 291,542 H-1B continuing-employment approvals in fiscal year 2025, or 77.6 per cent.
Currently, large employers pay an extra $4,000 per H-1B petition and $4,500 per L-1 petition only for initial filings or job changes.
Amazon, Tata Consultancy Services, Microsoft, Meta, Apple and Google received the most H-1B continuing-employment approvals in fiscal year 2025.
- Who
- The Donald Trump administration and the Department of Homeland Security, affecting Indian H-1B visa holders and US employers such as Amazon, Google and Meta.
- What
- A proposal to extend the '9-11 Response and Biometric Entry Exit Fee' to H-1B and L-1 visa extension petitions, raising renewal costs.
- Where
- United States
- When
- A final rule is expected in July; the data cited covers fiscal year 2025.
- Why
- To apply the 9-11 Response Fees to all H-1B and L-1 extension petitions, raising immigration-related costs for US employers of foreign skilled workers.
Key facts
- Proposal
- Extend '9-11 Response and Biometric Entry Exit Fee' to H-1B and L-1 extension petitions
- Current fee
- $4,000 per H-1B petition and $4,500 per L-1 petition for large employers on initial petitions or job changes
- Final rule expected
- July
- FY2025 H-1B approvals
- 406,685 total; 291,542 (71%) for continuing employment
- Indian nationals' share
- 226,359 approvals, 77.6% of H-1B extensions
- Second-largest nationality
- Chinese nationals with 31,581 approvals
- Top companies
- Amazon 14,532; TCS 5,293; Microsoft 4,863; Meta 4,740; Apple 4,610; Google 4,509










