H1B Visa Fee Rule Kicks In Today: Who Has To Pay The Revised Visa Fee Of $100,000?

H1B Visa Fee Rule Kicks In Today: The revised US H1B visa fee rules came into effect on Sunday, September 21. The new visa fee rules are set to increase the expense of H1B visa holders in the next upcoming lottery cycle, reported NDTV citing sources.

H1B Visa Fee Rule Not Applicable To Existing Holders

The revised H1B visa fee of $100,000 will not be applicable to existing holders and will be imposed on the new lottery system. Which means, that if an existing H1B visa holder is planning to renew visa in this cycle, then it will not attract a hefty visa fee of $100,000.

India Expresses Concern

A day ahead of the implementation of new H1B visa rules, India had expressed concern over the widescale repercussions and humanitarian impact of the new rule. The Ministry of External Affairs in a statement, stated, "The Government has seen reports related to the proposed restrictions on the US H1B visa program. The full implications of the measure are being studied by all concerned, including by Indian industry, which has already put out an initial analysis clarifying some perceptions related to the H1B program."

'Measures Likely To Have A Humanitarian Consequence'

The MEA, in its statement mentioned that the measure is likely to have a humanitarian consequence by way of disruptions caused for the families. "Skilled talent mobility and exchanges have contributed enormously to technology development, innovation, economic growth, competitiveness and wealth creation in the United States and India. Policy makers will therefore assess recent steps taking into account mutual benefits, which include strong people-to-people ties between the two countries.This measure is likely to have humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families. Government hopes that these disruptions can be addressed suitably by the US authorities," MEA added in its statement.

In another development around new H1B visa rules, companies like Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon have asked their H-1B and H-1 visa holder employees to not leave the country for at least 14 days. Those employees who have already left the country, they have been asked to return to the US by Sunday.

US Official Defends The H1B Visa Hike

The US H1B visa hike was announced earlier. As it came into effect on Sunday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick defended the move and mentioned that the revision of H1B visafees would discourage companies from hiring foreign workers.

He also mentioned that the new policy would lead ensure that most of the big companies don't train foreign workers, but instead train Americans.

"So the whole idea is, no more will these big tech companies or other big companies train foreign workers. They have to pay the government $100,000, then they have to pay the employee. So, it's just not economic. You're going to train somebody. You're going to train one of the recent graduates from one of the great universities across our land, train Americans. Stop bringing in people to take our jobs. That's the policy here. $100,000 a year for H-1B visas," he said.