The United States has affirmed that the new H-1B visa fee of 100,000 dollars will only apply to new applications of H-1B visas and not the current ones, which have raised so much worry within companies using the U.S. work visa program. The white house made it clear that the fee was not going to impact on the current visa holders or those individuals who are interested in renewing them, eliminating the misunderstanding about the policy.
H-1B Visa Fee 2026 Implementation Timeline
According to the White House, the H-1B visa fee increase will take effect from the next H-1B application cycle in 2026. The U.S. administration stated that this is a one-time fee, not an annual charge, giving companies additional time to plan for costs, invest in U.S. hiring, and step up employee skilling initiatives.
India’s information technology industry body Nasscom said the clarification reduces uncertainty for Indian IT firms and India-centric companies operating in the U.S. Nasscom highlighted that Indian IT companies have already reduced their dependence on H-1B visas, with a strong focus on hiring local talent in the U.S. The association noted that the impact on the $283 billion Indian IT sector will be marginal.
Indian IT firms, which earn around 57% of their revenue from the U.S. market, send workers onsite for client projects. Nasscom said the H-1B visa fee hike will push companies to accelerate local recruitment and training. The sector is presently spending more than 1 billion dollars in the yearly local employment and skills training to decrease the dependence on H-1B employees.
The U.S. decision on H-1B visa fees may also affect outsourcing markets like Pakistan, where IT companies track H-1B policy changes for cross-border opportunities. Pakistani tech firms and professionals looking for U.S. jobs or collaboration expected to monitor the 2026 H-1B application cycle closely.
Key Takeaways for H-1B Visa Applicants
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$100,000 H-1B fee applies only to new applications, not renewals.
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Fee implementation starts with the 2026 H-1B application cycle.
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Indian IT companies are shifting towards local U.S. hiring to manage costs.
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Pakistani and South Asian tech professionals should plan for changing H-1B visa requirements in future applications.
