The U.S. government’s sudden decision to impose a $100,000 fee on new H‑1B visa petitions has caused panic among skilled workers and tech companies. But officials have now clarified that existing H‑1B visa holders will not be affected by the new rule.
Existing Holders Safe
According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the new fee applies only to new petitions filed after September 21, 2025. Current visa holders, including those already working in the U.S. or traveling abroad, will not be charged.
A White House spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, said:
“To be clear, the $100,000 is not an annual fee. It is a one‑time charge that applies only to new petitions. Those who already hold H‑1B visas and are currently outside of the country will not be charged $100,000 to re‑enter.”
Renewals Will Continue
This clarification means that companies can continue to renew visas for their existing H‑1B employees under the old rules. The $100,000 fee will not apply to renewals, only to new applications in future lottery cycles.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick explained:
“Renewals are not impacted. The company only needs to decide if a new hire is valuable enough to justify the $100,000 petition fee.”
The Numbers Behind H‑1B
- In FY2023, USCIS approved 386,318 H‑1B petitions, of which nearly 72% were for Indian nationals — about 278,000 approvals.
- Computer‑related occupations made up 65% of approvals, translating to roughly 180,000 Indian tech professionals.
- India’s IT‑BPM workforce is about 5.4 million strong, meaning 3.3% to 5.2% of that talent pool is directly represented among H‑1B holders.
- Major tech firms dominate usage: Amazon had over 10,000 H‑1B approvals in 2025, while Microsoft and Meta each had more than 5,000.
- The median salary for H‑1B holders is around $118,000 per year, according to USCIS data.
First make sure you understand change in HIB visa rules! pic.twitter.com/j12fAxLr8r
— JV (@MoneyLifeInvest) September 21, 2025
Relief for Indian Professionals
The clarification has brought relief to thousands of Indian tech workers, who make up nearly 70% of all H‑1B visa holders. Many had feared they would be forced to pay the new fee just to keep their jobs or re‑enter the U.S. after travel.
Industry experts, however, warn that the steep cost for new petitions could push companies toward remote hiring instead of bringing workers onsite.
The Bottom Line
- Existing H‑1B holders are safe – their visas remain valid, and renewals will continue as before.
- The $100,000 fee applies only to new petitions filed after September 21, 2025.
- With Indians making up 7 out of 10 H‑1B holders, the impact of this policy will be felt most sharply in India’s IT sector.
#OnETNOW | "A $100,000 fee will make it unviable for Indian IT companies to send new workforce to the USA," says Neeti Sharma of TeamLease Digital on HIB visa fee #ITSECTOR #h1bvisa pic.twitter.com/v8OLqdAQgz
— ET NOW (@ETNOWlive) September 20, 2025
With nearly 70% of all H‑1B visas held by Indians and more than 380,000 approvals in FY2023 alone, the policy shift will reshape how firms approach future hiring, but it will not disrupt the lives of those already in the U.S. For now, the message is clear: renewals are safe, but new applications will come at a steep price.
