Overview

• Signed on September 21, the proclamation imposes a single upfront $100,000 payment on initial H‑1B filings and does not apply to current holders or renewals, according to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
• JPMorgan economists estimate the policy could cut up to about 5,500 new work authorizations per month, with the heaviest effects in technology roles and for Indian nationals.
• India’s government expressed concern over family and economic impacts, California’s attorney general is reviewing potential legal steps, and Senators Chuck Grassley and Dick Durbin pressed major tech firms to disclose H‑1B use during layoffs.
• The rollout produced immediate confusion, including a delayed Emirates flight at San Francisco International Airport after some H‑1B passengers chose to deplane.
• USCIS’s revised civics exam requires studying a 128‑question bank, answering 20 at interview, and getting at least 12 correct, and it applies to N‑400s filed on or after October 20.