Overview

• USCIS and the White House clarified the charge is a one‑time fee that applies prospectively only to new H‑1B petitions, exempting current visa holders and filings submitted before the effective date.
• Tech firms and banks initially urged employees to stay in the US or return quickly after chaotic scenes such as a three‑hour tarmac delay at SFO, then reassured staff once the scope was clarified.
• A Financial Times analysis cited in reports pegs potential employer costs at roughly $14 billion annually if new H‑1B issuance remains at prior levels, a burden analysts say could price out startups and nonprofits.
• India’s foreign ministry warned of humanitarian consequences for families, while NASSCOM said Indian IT companies plan to further increase US local hiring and upskilling to reduce dependence on H‑1B visas.
• Analysts expect more offshoring, nearshoring to Canada and Mexico, and greater automation; Gulf states are positioning to recruit displaced talent, and lawyers forecast legal challenges to the fee’s legality.