Sat Sep 20 10:35:44 UTC 2025: **Here’s a summary of the provided text:**
The article discusses the potential impact of the U.S.’s decision to raise H-1B visa application fees to $100,000 on Indian technology services companies. Nasscom, an Indian industry body, expresses concerns that this move will disrupt business continuity for onshore projects requiring H-1B visa holders. They also criticize the very short implementation timeline, which they say creates uncertainty. Nasscom emphasizes that Indian companies have been increasing local hiring in the U.S. and contribute significantly to the U.S. economy. The article also mentions that the Indian IT sector is already facing challenges due to macroeconomic uncertainties and legislative threats like the proposed HIRE Act, making the increased visa fees a further blow.
**Here’s the rewritten news article:**
**US Hikes H-1B Visa Fees to $100,000, Indian Tech Sector Braces for Impact**
**New Delhi – September 20, 2025** – A sudden increase in the U.S. H-1B visa application fee, announced Friday by U.S. President Donald Trump, is causing concern within India’s technology services sector. The fee has been drastically raised to $100,000 annually, a significant jump from the previous range of $2,000 to $5,000.
Nasscom, the apex body for the Indian IT industry, has voiced strong reservations about the move, predicting disruption to business continuity for onshore projects that rely on H-1B visa holders. The extremely short implementation timeline, going into effect September 21st, 2025, is also a major point of contention, described by Nasscom as creating “considerable uncertainty for businesses, professionals, and students across the world.”
“While we are reviewing the finer details of the order, adjustments of this nature can potentially have ripple effects on America’s innovation ecosystem and the wider job economy,” a Nasscom spokesperson stated.
The H-1B visa program is a critical pathway for Indian tech professionals to work in the U.S. Data from the USCIS website shows that companies like Amazon, TCS, Microsoft, Meta, Apple and Google are among the top beneficiaries of H-1B visas.
Nasscom highlighted that Indian companies have been increasingly focusing on local hiring in the U.S., contributing to the American economy and innovation partnerships. The industry body also reiterated that H-1B workers from Indian companies do not pose a threat to U.S. national security.
This visa fee hike adds to the existing challenges faced by the $283 billion Indian IT sector, which is already grappling with a turbulent global economic environment, client decision-making delays, and the potential impact of legislative measures like the proposed HIRE Act, which aims to curb outsourcing.
Nasscom says it will continue to monitor the situation, engage with industry stakeholders, and seek clarity on any discretionary waiver processes. The industry body maintains that high-skilled talent is vital for driving innovation and economic growth in the U.S., particularly in emerging fields like AI.
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