Trump’s introduction of a $100,000 fee on H-1B visas has sparked widespread concern, particularly affecting Indian professionals who make up about 75% of the annual 85,000 H-1B visas distributed by the US through a lottery system.
The sudden policy shift prompted multinational companies heavily reliant on Indian talent to swiftly instruct overseas employees to return to the US and remain there.
Amid the turmoil, the Indian embassy in Washington provided an emergency contact number for Indians needing urgent assistance: +1-202-550-9931 (available for calls and WhatsApp).
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The embassy emphasized that this number is strictly for emergencies, not routine queries.
Nasscom, representing India’s $283 billion IT and BPO industry, warned that the fee could disrupt global operations of Indian tech companies and significantly affect Indian nationals.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement highlighting the potential “humanitarian consequences” due to disruptions for families, urging US authorities to address these concerns.
As questions arose about the fee, the White House provided clarifications:
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The $100,000 fee is a one-time payment, not annual.
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Current visa holders re-entering or renewing are exempt; it applies only in the next H-1B lottery round.
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H-1B applications may bypass the fee on a case-by-case basis ‘if in the national interest’.
