Washington: The U.S. government has announced a sharp hike in H-1B visa fees, causing major concern among Indian tech workers and companies. Effective soon, the fee for an H-1B visa petition will increase to ₹88 lakh, dealing a significant blow to Indian IT professionals and firms dependent on the U.S. market.
The move comes as part of stricter immigration measures, with additional rules aimed at reducing the number of foreign workers. Reports state that U.S. immigration will now decide on visa applications within 24 hours, intensifying the pressure on applicants.
This decision is expected to affect thousands of Indian engineers, software professionals, and tech companies that rely heavily on U.S. outsourcing contracts. India, which sends the highest number of H-1B applicants every year, may face a setback in its IT services exports.
Indian associations and tech forums have expressed disappointment, saying the policy could impact bilateral trade and employment opportunities.
