Indian Government Collaborates with US Administration and IT Industry on H-1B Visa Fee Challenges

The Indian government is in discussions with the IT sector and the US administration to address the H-1B visa issue, according to sources. The recent increase in application fees impacts American firms significantly, as they are major users of these visas for skilled professionals. On Friday, US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation raising the H-1B visa application fee to USD 100,000 annually.

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Currently, the H-1B visa fees range from USD 2,000 to USD 5,000, depending on the size of the employer and other factors. The Indian government is actively collaborating with the US government, IT industry stakeholders, and Nasscom to find a solution. Sources indicate that US companies, being significant users of these visas, are also engaging with their government on this matter.

Impact on Major Companies

According to data from the USCIS website for FY25 as of June 30, 2025, Amazon leads in H-1B visa approvals with 10,044. TCS follows with 5,505 approvals. Other top beneficiaries include Microsoft Corp with 5,189 approvals and Meta with 5,123. Apple and Google have 4,202 and 4,181 approvals respectively.

Cognizant received 2,493 H-1B visa approvals while JP Morgan Chase secured 2,440. Walmart and Deloitte Consulting obtained 2,390 and 2,353 approvals respectively. The list of top 20 companies also features Infosys with 2,004 approvals, LTIMindtree with 1,807, and HCL America with 1,728.

Collaborative Efforts

The Indian government is working closely with Nasscom and other industry players to address this issue. The increase in fees poses challenges for both Indian IT firms and American companies relying on skilled professionals through these visas. Collaborative efforts aim to mitigate the impact on businesses across both nations.

As discussions continue between governments and industry stakeholders, finding a balanced approach remains crucial. The focus is on ensuring that businesses can continue to access skilled talent without facing prohibitive costs due to increased visa fees.

Efforts by both governments and industry associations highlight the importance of maintaining a steady flow of skilled professionals between India and the US. This collaboration seeks to ensure that businesses on both sides can thrive despite changes in visa regulations.

With inputs from PTI