Overview

• Officials said the $100,000 payment is a one‑time fee for future H‑1B applicants only, leaving renewals and current visa holders unaffected and free to travel.
• Before the clarification, internal advisories from firms such as Microsoft, Amazon and JPMorgan prompted cancellations and rushed returns, with reports of passengers deplaning and last‑minute fares spiking.
• Analysts expect onshore rotations to be curtailed as providers accelerate offshore and near‑shore delivery, expand global capability centres and increase U.S. hiring of citizens and green‑card holders.
• India’s foreign ministry and Nasscom voiced concern and are reviewing implications, with U.S. data showing Indian nationals accounted for about 71% of approved H‑1B beneficiaries last year.
• Immigration lawyers anticipate swift federal lawsuits challenging the proclamation’s legality, and agencies indicated the policy will be reviewed ahead of the next H‑1B lottery cycle.