Overview

• The proclamation, effective early Sunday, imposes a $100,000 fee only on new H‑1B petitions, with the White House and USCIS confirming that current holders, renewals, and routine travel are unaffected.
• Tech employers and startups are freezing recruitment plans and weighing moves to shift roles overseas as they reassess costs and headcount strategies, according to founders, investors, and immigration attorneys.
• India’s foreign ministry warned of “humanitarian consequences” for families and lodged concerns as Indian nationals account for about 71% of H‑1B beneficiaries, heightening diplomatic friction ahead of trade engagements.
• Major sponsors such as Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Meta, Google, and Indian IT services firms could face sharply higher talent acquisition costs, with California, Texas, and New York among the most exposed states by approvals.
• The directive also steers agencies toward raising wage requirements and prioritizing higher-paid, higher‑skilled applicants, with legal challenges to the policy widely expected.