Overview

• The $100,000 supplemental fee on new H‑1B petitions took effect on Sept. 21, with the White House clarifying it is a one-time charge that does not apply to current holders or renewals.
• India’s External Affairs Ministry said it is engaging U.S. officials and industry during the comment period, while the Finance Ministry described the risks to services as manageable but worth monitoring.
• Crisil projects a 10–20 basis point margin hit for leading Indian IT firms with 30–70% of added costs passed to clients, and major universities estimate potential annual outlays in the tens of millions if hiring levels continue.
• Reports describe hiring pauses and some rescinded offers to international students, as Germany, Canada and the UK court skilled workers with alternative visa pathways.
• Parallel DHS plans to weight H‑1B selection by wage levels continue to advance, and immigration lawyers indicate they will challenge the new fee in court.