BusinessLine·2025-12-15 10:34Core Insights - The Trump administration's new $100,000 fee for H-1B workers hired from outside the US is expected to significantly impact the IT outsourcing and staffing industries, which have been targets for both political parties [1][2] - The fee is the largest restriction imposed on the employment of skilled foreign workers to date, leading to potential increases in costs for multinational staffing firms [2][3] Impact on Staffing Firms - Multinational staffing firms like Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, and Cognizant are likely to be disproportionately affected, with nearly 90% of new H-1B hires at these companies approved at US consulates between May 2020 and May 2024 [2][3] - Infosys alone would face over $1 billion in visa charges due to the fee affecting more than 10,400 workers, while TCS and Cognizant would incur fees for 6,500 and 5,600 workers respectively [3] Changes in Visa Demand - Industry experts anticipate a steep decline in visa demand and a shift towards placing more workers overseas, regardless of potential legal challenges to the fee [4][9] - The IT consulting industry has already reduced new H-1B applications since 2024, and the fee is expected to accelerate this trend [9][10] Legislative Context - Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have criticized the H-1B program, suggesting it serves as a low-cost alternative to American workers, despite H-1B employees being required to receive a prevailing wage [5][6] - The fee is seen as a measure to discourage companies from exploiting the system and to provide more certainty for American businesses seeking high-skilled workers [8][15] Future Hiring Strategies - Companies are likely to adapt their hiring strategies in response to the fee, with some major H-1B employers considering opting out of registering workers who require visa processing at consulates [14] - Projections indicate that the combination of the fee and a proposed lottery overhaul could reduce entries in the next lottery by 30% to 50% [15]