The Trump administration’s decision to dramatically increase the H-1B visa fee to $100,000 is causing financial difficulties for many Indian professionals hoping to work in the United States. This significant rise, from the prior range of $2,000 to $5,000, is intended to potentially reduce the number of foreign workers. This policy change is expected to particularly impact Indian nationals.
According to financial data, a considerable percentage of Indian H-1B visa holders have an annual income below the newly implemented fee. This is due to the general income disparities in the US market for different national groups.
In 2024, data showed that Indian H-1B workers had an average salary of $95,500, which is lower than that of other nations.
The distribution of earnings highlights the disparities. A substantial portion of Indian H-1B workers earned less than $100,000 annually. Meanwhile, the majority of non-Indian H-1B workers earned salaries above this amount.
Comparatively, Indian H-1B employees’ salaries were generally lower than other nationalities, with only a small percentage earning more than $100,000.
The H-1B visa program allows US companies to hire specialized foreign workers. Indians make up the largest segment of H-1B visa holders, accounting for a significant portion in the latest fiscal year.