(Commonwealth_India) The sudden announcement from Washington has left thousands of Indian families anxious and uncertain about their future. Late on Friday, President Donald Trump ordered that anyone applying for a new H-1B visa from outside the US would need to pay a staggering $100,000 fee, effective almost immediately. That’s more than sixty times the current cost, and for many aspiring professionals and their families, it feels like an impossible barrier.
No group is more affected than Indians, who make up more than 70% of all H-1B visa holders. For decades, these visas have been the main route through which skilled Indian workers, particularly in technology, have built lives and careers in the US. They’ve also served as a link between two countries with deeply entwined economic and cultural ties. Overnight, that bridge suddenly looks unstable.
The Indian government responded with unusual urgency. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said the measure would cause “humanitarian consequences,” pointing to the disruption it could create for families. Behind those diplomatic words lies a very human reality: parents separated from children, spouses stranded in different countries, and students unsure if they’ll be able to pursue the opportunities they’ve worked so hard for.
Although the White House clarified that the new fee would not apply to renewals or people who already hold visas, the uncertainty hasn’t gone away. In fact, some of America’s biggest employers, Amazon, Microsoft, and JP Morgan, among them, have urged their workers with H-1B visas to stay inside the US for now. The White House has advised those who are currently outside the country to return immediately before the new rules come into effect. Amazon even advised its employees stranded abroad to refrain from attempting to re-enter the US until they receive clearer guidance in an internal note.
The sudden change coincides with already strained relations between India and the US. Just weeks ago, Trump hit India with fresh tariffs over its oil purchases from Russia, and trade talks between the two countries have been tense. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is due in Washington for negotiations, but this visa shock threatens to overshadow everything else on the table.
India’s powerful tech lobby, Nasscom, has warned that the move could create chaos for companies and professionals worldwide. The speed and scale of the change have rattled businesses, which depend on global talent moving smoothly across borders.
The US side argues that companies are abusing the H-1B system to outsource jobs and lower wages. The order does allow for exemptions in cases deemed “national interest”, but no one knows what that will mean in practice.
On paper, the H-1B visa is designed to enable American companies to temporarily hire foreign workers with highly specialised skills. In reality, it has become the backbone of America’s technology industry. Nearly 400,000 visas were approved in 2024 alone, with Amazon receiving the largest share and India’s Tata Consultancy Services close behind.
But beyond the numbers and political arguments, it is the human stories that stand out. A young engineer is eagerly anticipating her first job in Silicon Valley. A family is preparing to postpone their reunion indefinitely. A father is concerned about the financial impact of the fee hike on his ability to bring his wife and children along. These are the people living with the uncertainty created by a policy change made overnight.
While the Indian government has refrained from threatening retaliation, its appeal to the US to take into account the “humanitarian consequences” is significant. For now, both governments are talking about the issue in terms of trade, policy, and negotiations. But for thousands of families, it is about something much more personal—whether their dreams, carefully built over years, will be allowed to continue, or cut short by a price tag few can afford.
