The White House clarified that the H-1B visa fee will be a one-time charge, not an annual fee, and will only apply to new applications; existing visa holders and those residing abroad will not have to pay any additional fee. USCIS and the White House have both issued statements clarifying this decision.
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US President Donald Trump has imposed a hefty fee for H-1B visas. The new fee has been set at $100,000, or approximately 8.8 million rupees. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt clarified, “This is not an annual fee, but a one-time fee, and it will only apply to new petitions.”
The USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) also clarified that the new rule will only apply to new, as yet unfiled, petitions. This fee will not apply to existing H-1B visa holders or those residing outside the United States.
To be clear:
1.) This is NOT an annual fee. It’s a one-time fee that applies only to the petition.
2.) Those who already hold H-1B visas and are currently outside of the country right now will NOT be charged $100,000 to re-enter.
H-1B visa holders can leave and re-enter the…
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) September 20, 2025
Meanwhile, Press Secretary Levitt stated that those who currently hold an H-1B visa and are located outside the United States will not be required to pay the $100,000 fee. These visa holders can enter and leave the United States as usual. The new order will only apply to new applications and the upcoming lottery cycle, not to visa renewals or existing visa holders.
The $100,000 fee applies only to new visa holders.
A senior US administration official also stated that those traveling to or from the US to India do not need to rush to apply or pay the $100,000 fee; this only applies to new visa applicants.
Indian Embassy issues helpline number
Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in the United States has released a helpline number, +1-202-550-9931, for emergency assistance. This number can also be used for WhatsApp messages. This number is for Indian citizens only, for use in emergency situations.
