H-1B Visa Fee Hike: Indian-American Group Warns of Job Losses
By Business Desk
A proposed $103,265 H-1B visa fee could cripple US companies, especially startups, and drive high-value jobs overseas, warns FIIDS.
The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), an Indian-American advocacy group, has expressed significant concern over a proposed additional fee of $103,265 for H-1B work visas. The organization warns this extraordinary fee could make legitimate hiring economically unfeasible for US companies, potentially driving high-value jobs overseas.
Analyzing the Proposed Fee Structure
This concern arises from a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposal to implement the additional fee for all H-1B visa cap-subject applications, including those eligible for advanced degree exemptions.
Khanderao Kand, Chief of Policy and Strategy at FIIDS, stated that while DHS and USCIS require resources for national security and immigration administration, a fee of this magnitude could severely impact cash-strapped startups and impose substantial additional costs on companies.
- Proposed additional H-1B visa fee: $103,265
- Potential Optional Practical Training (OPT) fee: $100,000
- Combined student-to-work pathway cost: $203,265
- USCIS funding derived from fees: Approximately 96%
Kand further noted that combining the H-1B fee with a potential $100,000 OPT fee would effectively make the entire student-to-work pathway unaffordable for many.
Broader Implications for Talent and Economy
FIIDS highlights that this proposal emerges as the international student pipeline in the United States is already weakening.
The group cited data from the Institute of International Education, showing a significant drop in new international student enrollment.
- Decrease in new international student enrollment (autumn 2025): 17%
- NAFSA 2026 outlook: Decline of up to 111,000 international students
- Projected economic loss from student decline: Up to $3.4 billion
FIIDS advocates for a more balanced funding approach from DHS and USCIS, urging Congress to ensure adequate agency funding and the industry to clearly articulate America’s talent requirements.
The group emphasized that without a balanced approach, the United States risks losing critical talent and high-value jobs to other nations, undermining its competitive edge.