Article Summary

A new $100,000 H-1B visa fee, effective September 21, 2025, will apply only to new petitions for individuals outside the United States. This exemption for those already in the US, including foreign students, offers relief to American tech employers. While Indian IT firms transferring offshore employees will incur the fee, their impact is limited due to increased local hiring and near-shore operations.

TNP AI: Key Insights

This policy clarification is crucial for US employers, particularly in the tech sector, as it removes the burden of a substantial fee when sponsoring foreign graduates already residing in the US. For international students on F1 visas, it alleviates a major potential financial barrier to securing post-graduation employment with American companies.

The rule reinforces a strategic shift within the IT services industry towards local hiring and near-shore delivery centers, a trend accelerated by previous policy tightening and the pandemic. While increasing costs for traditional offshore transfers, the limited overall impact on major Indian IT firms highlights their adaptability and reduced reliance on such pathways, signaling a continued preference for 'value-driven' over 'volume-driven' skilled immigration.