Washington, DC [US], September 22 (ANI): The US State Department on Sunday (local time) offered additional clarity on President Donald Trump’s H-1B visa proclamation, which has caused concern across the tech industry and among Indian professionals in America.
The department dismissed several false claims circulating after Trump signed the order last week, stressing that the new H-1B rules “do not apply to any previously issued H-1B visas or to any petitions submitted prior to 12:01 am Eastern Daylight Time on September 21, 2025.”
It further clarified that the new $100,000 fee applies only to individuals or companies filing fresh H-1B petitions or entering the lottery system after September 21. Current visa holders and petitions submitted before that date remain unaffected.
Under the proclamation, a $100,000 payment must accompany every new H-1B petition filed after the deadline, including entries in the 2026 lottery. The order also authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department to coordinate implementation.
Guidance has been issued by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), US Customs and Border Protection, and the State Department to ensure consistent enforcement, according to the statement. It also emphasized that the proclamation does not alter fees for H-1B renewals and does not restrict existing visa holders from traveling in and out of the United States.
Looking ahead, the administration plans further reforms to the H-1B program. These include a Department of Labor rule to raise prevailing wage levels and a Department of Homeland Security initiative to prioritize high-paid, high-skilled applicants in the H-1B lottery. Additional changes are under consideration and are expected to be announced in the coming months.
A senior US administration official told ANI that individuals holding H-1B visas, including those visiting India or other countries, “don’t need to rush back before Sunday or pay the $100,000 fee.” The official clarified that the payment is required only for new applicants.
USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow reiterated in a memorandum that the proclamation “only applies prospectively to petitions that have not yet been filed.” It does not apply to beneficiaries of petitions submitted before the effective date, to those with approved petitions, or to holders of valid H-1B visas.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also underscored that the $100,000 fee is a one-time payment, not an annual charge, and does not affect current visa holders. She noted that H-1B holders abroad will not be charged to re-enter the country and may travel as usual.
Leavitt added that the increased fee will apply beginning with the upcoming H-1B lottery cycle. (ANI)
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