H-1B Visa Fee in INR: Then Vs Now

The H-1B visa, long seen as the golden ticket for Indian IT professionals to work in the United States, has undergone a seismic fee shift under President Donald Trump’s latest immigration reforms. Once considered expensive but achievable, the cost of securing and renewing an H-1B visa has now skyrocketed to a level that could reshape Indian migration patterns, tech hiring, and the global outsourcing industry. Here’s a detailed look at the “then vs now” fee structure in Indian rupees (INR), and what it means for applicants and companies.What is the H-1B Visa?Introduced in 1990, the H-1B visa allows US employers to hire highly skilled foreign workers in areas like IT, engineering, finance, medicine, and research. It is valid for three years, renewable

up to six years, and has been the backbone of Indian IT’s presence in Silicon Valley. Historically, India has accounted for 70–75% of total H-1B approvals, making every policy change in Washington a matter of national interest in New Delhi.Then: Old H-1B Visa Fees in INRUntil 2025, the fee structure for an H-1B visa was complex but far more affordable. Depending on company size and employee count, the following fees applied:

• Base filing fee: $460 (≈ Rs 40,000)
• USCIS registration fee: $10 (≈ Rs 800)
• Anti-fraud fee: $500 (≈ Rs 44,000)
• Training fee (ACWIA): $750–$1,500 (≈ Rs 66,000 – Rs 1.32 lakh)
• Public Law fee (for large firms): $4,000 (≈ Rs 3.5 lakh)
• Premium processing (optional): $2,500 (≈ Rs 2.2 lakh)

For most Indian applicants, the total fee ranged between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 5 lakh per visa, paid primarily by the sponsoring company. While not cheap, this was manageable for Infosys, TCS, Wipro, Amazon, and Microsoft, which filed thousands of petitions annually.

• Base filing fee: $460 (≈ Rs 40,000)
• USCIS registration fee: $10 (≈ Rs 800)
• Anti-fraud fee: $500 (≈ Rs 44,000)
• Training fee (ACWIA): $750–$1,500 (≈ Rs 66,000 – Rs 1.32 lakh)
• Public Law fee (for large firms): $4,000 (≈ Rs 3.5 lakh)
• Premium processing (optional): $2,500 (≈ Rs 2.2 lakh)

On September 20, 2025, Trump signed a proclamation imposing a flat $100,000 (≈ Rs 88 lakh) fee per H-1B visa application. Unlike the earlier system, this amount is non-refundable and applies to every application and renewal.

• New H-1B visa fee (2025): $100,000 ≈ Rs 88 lakh
• Renewals: Required every 3 years, meaning Rs 1.76 crore for a 6-year stay
• Green Card wait: With Indians facing a backlog of 10–15 years, many may end up paying Rs 5 crore or more over time

This represents a 20–30x jump in cost, placing the H-1B visa out of reach for smaller firms and mid-level Indian applicants.

Then vs Now: Fee Comparison in INRBase + Filing Fees

• Then: Rs 40,000 – Rs 5 lakh
• Now: Rs 88 lakh per application
• Increase: +1,660%

Renewal (3 years)

• Then: Rs 40,000 – Rs 5 lakh
• Now: Rs 88 lakh again
• Increase: +1,660%

6-Year Total

• Then: Rs 3–5 lakh
• Now: Rs 1.76 crore
• Increase: +3,400%

Long-Term (Green Card Backlog)

• Then: Rs 10–15 lakh
• Now: Rs 5+ crore
• Increase: +33,000%

Impact on Indian IT Professionals

• Affordability Crisis: Indian families once saw the H-1B as a gateway to the “American Dream.” With costs soaring to Rs 88 lakh, only ultra-rich or corporate-sponsored talent may afford it.
• Company Sponsorship at Risk: US tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta hired tens of thousands of Indians through H-1Bs. But the fee hike means firms will prioritize PhD-level, highly specialized talent over mid-level IT coders.

• Brain Drain Diversion: Canada, the UK, and Australia, which offer cheaper and friendlier immigration policies, may attract the very talent the US wants to retain.
• Green Card Backlog Nightmare: Indians already face a decades-long wait for permanent residency. Repeated renewals at Rs 88 lakh each could make long-term settlement nearly impossible.

Trump’s Gold Card vs H-1BAlongside the H-1B hike, Trump introduced a “Gold Card” visa priced at:

• $1 million (Rs 8.8 crore) for individuals
• $2 million (Rs 17.6 crore) for corporations

This elite program offers fast-tracked entry for billionaires, entrepreneurs, and businesses, while the H-1B system becomes prohibitively expensive for average Indian techies.What Lies Ahead for IndiansFor decades, the H-1B was the backbone of India’s $250 billion IT exports industry. The new fee regime marks a turning point. If not rolled back, it could:

• Force Indian IT firms to expand local hiring in the US, raising costs.
• Encourage Indian talent to migrate to Canada, Australia, or Europe instead.
• Push India to renegotiate immigration pacts with the US.

The shift from Rs 3–5 lakh earlier to Rs 88 lakh now transforms the H-1B visa from a skilled-worker program into a near luxury entry pass. For Indian IT professionals, the dream of working in the US has suddenly become a multi-crore gamble, testing both the resilience of India’s workforce and the adaptability of its IT industry.