US $100,000 H-1B fee could cut 5,500 monthly work authorizations, threatens Indian tech jobs

Core Insights - The White House's new $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications could lead to a reduction of work authorizations for immigrants by as many as 5,500 per month, particularly affecting technology companies and Indian immigrants [1][4] Group 1: Visa Application Impact - Computer-related occupations accounted for nearly two-thirds of H-1B approvals in fiscal year 2024, with about 71% of approvals coming from India [3] - Of the approximately 141,000 H-1B petitions approved last fiscal year, around 65,000 were processed abroad, making them more susceptible to the new fee [3] Group 2: Job Market Implications - The increase in fees could potentially eliminate up to 140,000 new jobs per year in US companies reliant on skilled foreign talent, translating to about 10,000 jobs per month [5] - US hiring has significantly slowed, with an average addition of only 29,000 payrolls per month over the past three months, attributed in part to lower immigration [5] Group 3: Sectoral Effects - Higher-paid sectors such as technology, finance, and healthcare may benefit from a reallocation of visas, while lower-paid roles in education may be adversely affected [6] - The existing H-1B workforce is expected to remain stable in the near term, as the fee applies only to initial petitions and not renewals [8]