On September 19, 2025 (local time), U.S. President Trump inked an executive order stipulating that companies must pay an annual sum of $100,000 for each H-1B work visa they sponsor. Without this payment, visa holders will be barred from entering the country. The overarching goal of this policy is to curb the misuse of H-1B visas, ensuring that foreign workers brought in under this program possess highly specialized skills and are truly indispensable.

The H-1B visa serves as a primary avenue for U.S. companies to hire foreign professional technicians. India stands out as the biggest beneficiary, having secured a staggering 71% of H-1B visa approvals in the previous year. The new policy, however, is set to dramatically hike the fees borne by companies, soaring from a few thousand dollars to $100,000 per visa. This sharp increase is anticipated to deal a heavy blow to the tech industry, which heavily relies on H-1B visas, especially Indian tech service firms.

Tech behemoths like Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta, which receive a substantial number of H-1B visa approvals annually, will also see their labor costs skyrocket under the new policy.

Furthermore, President Trump unveiled the creation of a 'Golden Card' immigration route. Under this scheme, individuals who pay $1 million or companies that sponsor $2 million can fast-track their visa approvals.