Jul 31, 2026•livemint.com
Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee: Will it crush the American dream for Indian students? Here's what experts say
For decades, the math for Indian students heading to the United States was fairly simple: take out an education loan, earn a STEM degree, secure a job through the Optional Practical Training (OPT (work permit after graduation)) program, and eventually obtain an H-1B work visa visa to pay off the debt. A DHS (Dept. of Homeland Security) spokesperson noted that the department is continually exploring tools to "protect the integrity of our legal immigration system." The OPT program is a temporary work authorisation. "The charge would exceed the first-year gross salary of most STEM master's graduates. Khanna, Managing Attorney at Immigration.com. This follows a controversial attempt by the Trump administration to impose a similar $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications. Laul said that roughly 4.2 lakh international graduates use OPT every year, disproportionately in STEM, and they aren't a marginal contributor to the US economy. Some education consultants have predicted that if the OPT fee is implemented, the impact will be immediate: a sharp decline in Indian students opting for US STEM programs. With six in ten US colleges already reporting a fall in international student applications due to ongoing policy turbulence, the OPT fee could decimate international enrollment, fundamentally altering the financial landscape of American higher education. Khanna said that this measure would face “serious legal obstacles,” and the H-1B fee litigation shows those obstacles are real. “But students and families should plan on the assumption that American immigration policy will remain unstable through at least 2027. Stay updated with the latest Trending , India , World and US news.
Jul 28, 2026•indianexpress.com
How a new US bill could ease green card path for Indian H-1B visa holders
US President Donald Trump’s administration continues to tighten immigration enforcement even as a Democratic senator has introduced a fresh bid to create a pathway to permanent residency for immigrants , including H-1B work visa visa holders. Senator Alex Padilla of California reiterated his support for the ‘Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929’ bill, which he introduced last year. The bill would include Dreamers (undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children), forcibly displaced individuals (Temporary Protected Status holders), children of long-term visa holders, essential workers, and highly skilled professionals such as H-1B visa holders, who have been waiting for employment-based green cards for years. Indian nationals residing in the United States account for over 70% of approximately 85,000 H-1B visas issued annually, and according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS (U.S. immigration agency)) data, approximately 1 million Indians are currently in the green card backlog. Section 249 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, also known as the Registry provision, is proposed to be amended in the bill. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ...
