Overview

• A viral TikTok showed passengers deplaning an Emirates flight after the surprise fee announcement as confusion spread over jobs and entry rules.
• The White House later clarified the charge is a one‑time payment that applies only to new H‑1B petitions, easing some immediate fears.
• A DHS note reported by Newsweek outlines proposed changes for December publication that would tighten oversight, revise cap‑exempt eligibility, and scrutinize third‑party placements.
• Indian IT firms reliant on lower‑paid H‑1B talent face outsized exposure, with TCS and Infosys shares sliding in the week after the news while U.S. tech stocks saw smaller declines.
• Critics warn the policy could curb U.S. competitiveness and hiring in tech and other fields that use H‑1B workers, while supporters say it protects domestic jobs.