Overview

• The proclamation takes effect at 12:01 a.m. EDT on September 21 and applies to new H-1B petitions and renewals, exposing employers to as much as $600,000 per worker over six years.
• It orders DHS to restrict decisions on cases lacking the $100,000 payment for beneficiaries outside the U.S. for 12 months, triggering urgent travel advisories for H-1B workers and families abroad.
• India’s government flagged potential humanitarian consequences for families, while companies, attorneys and business groups warned of disruption and signaled court challenges.
• The administration also unveiled paid fast-track options, including a $1 million “Gold Card” with a residency path and a $5 million “Platinum” tier that officials say would need congressional approval.
• Officials project more than $100 billion in revenue and fewer low-wage entries, but the costs would surge for heavy users such as Amazon and TCS, which received 10,044 and 5,505 approvals this year.