The US President Donald Trump has announced a steep $100,000 fee for companies looking for H-1B visa for foreign employees in a significant foreign shift. Moreover, the move aligns with the launch of Project Firewall by the U.S. Department of Labor. In addition, it is created to prioritize the American workers. However, it could have far-reaching implications for the Indian professionals and global businesses.
What the New Rule for H-1B Visa Means
The US companies are required to pay the government $100,000 for each H-1B visa from the 21st of September 2025. Moreover, the policy will be in place for 12 months. However, companies have the option to extend it.
President Trump justified the rule by citing “systematic abuse of the visa system”. Moreover, he calls it a national security threat. In addition, the US administration argues that H-1B misuse has generated disadvantage for the American graduates, as employers prefer foreign workers at lower wages.
Project Firewall: Safeguarding American Jobs
Besides the H1-B visa, the Department of Labor launched Project Firewall. However, it is an initiative aimed at protecting the rights, wages, and opportunities of American workers. We have listed the key points of this firewall below:
- Investigations into visa program violations certified by the Secretary of Labor.
- Penalties such as fines, back wages, and employer bans from the H-1B program.
- Collaboration between the Department of Justice, USCIS, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to curb fraud.
US Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer said, “By rooting out fraud and abuse, the Department of Labor and our federal partners are going to ensure that highly skilled jobs go to Americans first.”
Impact on Indian Tech Workers
Indians are the most affected group by this new policy, as they are the 70% H-1B holders. Hence, immigration experts suggest that the new fees might not force the immediate return. However, they suggest the following results:
- Reduce job mobility for Indian workers in the U.S.
- Make visa renewals financially burdensome.
- Push talent toward other destinations like Canada, the UK, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi criticized this decision. Moreover, he called it a reckless attempt to cut off from high-skilled workers who have long fueled innovation in the nation.
These two decisions could be the turning point in the US immigration and labor policy. The administration argued that it would safeguard Americans’ jobs. However, they are likely to create problems for the global employers who rely on specialized talents.
Read more:
[…] Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee and Project Firewall Spark Concerns Among Indian Tech Workers […]