Overview

• After conflicting remarks from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the White House clarified the fee is a single payment for first-time applicants and does not affect existing H-1B holders or renewals.
• Companies including Microsoft, Amazon, JPMorgan and TCS told H-1B staff to avoid travel or return to the U.S., prompting canceled trips and airport departures before the clarification eased panic.
• India accounts for about 71% of H-1B beneficiaries, and industry group Nasscom warned of business continuity risks and ripple effects on the U.S. innovation ecosystem.
• Analysts and executives expect firms to pause onshore rotations, accelerate offshore and nearshore delivery, expand global capability centers, automate more work, and increase hiring of U.S. citizens and green card holders.
• Immigration lawyers report a surge in calls and expect multiple lawsuits to be filed this week, as Indian officials and state leaders assess economic and humanitarian impacts.