Foreign students studying in the U.S. may have finally got some good news this Diwali.
After announcing a new $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications as part of a sweeping overhaul aimed at prioritising American workers, U.S. authorities clarified that this fee applies only to new petitions filed from outside the U.S..
We explain how this will come as a relief to students currently studying in the U.S. and those who are eligible for H1-B visas after completing their course from U.S. universities.
How does the H1-B clarification by USCIS help students in the U.S.?
The H‑1B visa programme, that’s widely used by U.S. employers to sponsor foreign workers in skilled jobs, has been at the centre of a major policy shift under the Donald Trump administration, and international graduates in the U.S. are getting a narrowly carved exception.
Specifically, the fee requirement was introduced through a presidential proclamation signed on September 19, 2025, that takes effect for new petitions filed from September 21, 2025. Employers sponsoring foreign nationals already present in the U.S. such as international students who graduated from U.S. universities, will not need to pay the six-figure surcharge. Since about 70 percent of all H1-B visas have been going to Indians, this will be something that should bring some cheer to them if they meet the conditions mentioned here.
For foreign graduates who have completed studies in the U.S. and seek H-1B status without leaving the country, this clarification brings relief: they avoid the $100,000 burden. That’s good news for Indian and Chinese students, who form the biggest chunk of international students in U.S. universities.
Why did Trump increase H1-B visa fees?
The administration’s rationale is to curtail perceived misuse of the H-1B programme claiming that some firms use it to displace American workers with lower-cost foreign labour. The new fee is meant to act as a deterrent. Critics have argued that the move could severely hamper the U.S.’s ability to attract global talent, particularly in technology, research and STEM fields, and may stall innovation.
Still, the broader policy change remains contentious. Business groups and unions have already launched lawsuits arguing the fee is unlawful and exceeds the executive’s authority. While those cases play out in U.S. courts, the clarification on some aspects of how the H1-B visa fee will be implemented will help many Indian students escape the $100,000 anxiety burden. It is important to note here that the $100,000 visa fee is not borne by the student/ employee but by the employer but having the possibility of hiring someone for whom the company doesn’t have to shell out a hefty visa fee is a win-win. olxslot gacor