Trump Administration Proposes $103,265 H-1B Fee, Raising Costs for Indian IT Firms and US Employers

NewsData.io · United States · Aug 25, 2026

The Trump administration's DHS has proposed a $103,265 fee for certain H-1B petitions, a significant increase that would raise hiring costs for US employers sponsoring foreign talent — particularly Indian IT professionals, who accounted for 71% of the 399,402 H-1B petitions approved in 2024. The proposal follows a previously introduced $100,000 fee that was blocked by a federal judge as an unlawful tax, and is now open for a 30-day public comment period. Nasscom noted that Indian tech firms have already shifted toward more US-based hiring and invested over $1.1 billion in STEM workforce development, but cautioned that the fee hike adds significant uncertainty to talent acquisition strategies. Staffing firms placing H-1B-dependent tech professionals should monitor the rulemaking closely as cost and compliance implications could reshape client hiring decisions.