A sudden change to the United States’ skilled worker visa programme triggered panic among Indian professionals abroad, with some spending thousands of dollars to return before a new fee came into effect.
On Friday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order introducing a $100,000 surcharge on applications for the H-1B visa, a programme that allows foreign workers to take up specialised roles in the US. The move, more than 60 times the current fee, was initially understood to apply immediately, prompting a rush by visa holders to get back into the country before the deadline.
Rohan Mehta – not his real name – was among them. The software engineer, who has lived in the US with his family for over a decade, was in Nagpur, India, for the anniversary of his father’s death when the announcement came. Fearing he would be locked out, he cut short his trip and spent more than $8,000 (£5,900) booking and rebooking flights to ensure he landed in New York before the rule was enforced.
“I booked multiple options because most were cutting it very close,” he told the BBC shortly before boarding a Virgin Atlantic flight from Mumbai to John F. Kennedy International Airport. “Even if there was a slight delay, I’d have missed the deadline.”
The White House clarified a day later that the new levy would not affect current H-1B visa holders or those re-entering the US, but would instead be a one-time fee applied to new applicants in future rounds. By then, the damage had been done. “The last few days have been traumatic,” Mehta said, adding that he was thankful his wife and daughter had not travelled with him. “I feel like I gave the prime of my youth to this country, and now I’m not wanted.”
Workers from India account for more than 70% of the 85,000 H-1B visas issued each year, making them the group most affected by the uncertainty. Many declined to speak publicly, citing fear of repercussions from employers. Immigration lawyers also advised clients abroad to return to the US quickly until the implications of the order were clarified.
Another visa holder, holidaying in Europe, described widespread confusion. “From my understanding, the order is only for new visas,” he said. “But immigration lawyers are still figuring it out.”
Tech giants remain among the largest users of the programme. Government figures show Amazon was the top sponsor of H-1B workers in the past year, followed by Tata, Microsoft, Meta, Apple and Google.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later sought to calm fears, posting on X: “Those who already hold H-1B visas and are currently outside of the country right now will not be charged $100,000 to re-enter.”
Still, for many like Mehta, the episode has left scars. “My daughter has spent her entire life in the US,” he said. “I don’t know how we would uproot our lives and start all over in India.”
