National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM), on Monday (September 22, 2025) issued a statement after the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) clarified on the U.S. Donald Trump’s proclamation of hiking the H-1B visa fee to $100,000.
In a FAQ, USCIS said that the September 19 proclamation took an “important, initial, and incremental step” to reform the H-1B visa programme to curb abuses and protect American workers.
The NASSCOM statement further said “On September 20, 2025, the White House issued clarifications on the recent proclamation introducing a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications. The clarification makes clear that the measure will not affect current visa holders and will apply as a one-time fee only to fresh petitions. This has helped address the immediate ambiguity surrounding eligibility and timelines. This alleviates concerns on business continuity and uncertainty for H-1B holders that were outside the U.S.”
Trump signs proclamation imposing $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications
It further added “Moreover, with the fee being applicable from 2026 onward, gives companies time to further step up skilling programs in US and enhance local hiring. The industry is spending more than a billion dollars on local upskilling and hiring in the US, and the number of local hires has increased tremendously.”
