H-1B Visa: Will Indian students studying in the US have to pay 8.8 million for a job?

H-1B Visa: US President Donald Trump made a significant change to the H-1B visa rules on September 20th. Following this change, H-1B visa holders (H1B visa fees 2025) will now have to pay a fee of $100,000 (approximately ₹8.8 million). Previously, an H-1B visa could be applied for for a year for a total of $1,500, or approximately ₹1.32 lakh. However, this rule has changed since September 21st.

Although this fee will be levied solely on companies, it could make it more difficult for Indian students to find jobs in the US.

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US has made a significant change to the H-1B visa fee

Now, the fee will be ₹8.8 million, though this will be a one-time payment. Paying such a large sum at once will not be easy. Following this change, many people are wondering if students studying in the US will also have to pay such a large sum for a new job. Let's understand this in detail.

Company Pays H-1B Visa Costs

First, understand who pays the H-1B visa fee to the US government. According to US law, the sponsoring company must pay all fees related to the H-1B visa. The company cannot charge the worker for these fees. Only in cases like premium processing, the worker is required to pay some of the fee. The company has to bear the costs associated with the visa so that the foreign worker does not have to bear the financial burden of working in the US.

Trump significant change to the H-1B visa rules on September 20th

Now the question arises: with the new H-1B visa fee of ₹8.8 million, will companies still bear the full cost? The answer is yes. Companies must pay the entire fee. The worker cannot be charged this fee. The Trump administration has clarified that the new fees will only apply to new H-1B visas. This means that if a company wants to hire an H-1B visa worker, it will have to spend an additional ₹8.8 million.

Can work for 3 years without an H-1B visa

Now, let's address the question... will Indian students also have to pay such a large sum for an immediate job? In fact, students from India who come to America to study often do so with the expectation of finding employment there after completing their studies. A large portion of Indian students studying in America are in STEM fields such as technology, engineering, science, and math. This is why the number of Indian students in America is in the millions each year.

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The US government's decision to increase H-1B visa fees may be a cause for concern for these students. However, students can work in the US for up to 3 years after completing their studies under STEM OPT (Optional Practical Training). They do not need an H-1B visa. But with the new rule, it could become more expensive for American companies to hire Indian students on H-1B visas. This means Indian students will either have to return to the country after three years or find alternative options.

Will job opportunities close for Indian students?

According to a report in the Economic Times, American companies often offer entry-level jobs to new graduates. Under the new rule, if such a high fee is required for each H-1B visa, companies may prefer local or American graduates. This will directly impact the job prospects of Indian students.