[REVISION HISTORY]
US H‑1B policy changes affecting Indian workers
Updated 1 time since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.
What changed
2026-08-05 00:04 UTC → 2026-08-06 11:58 UTC ·
added
removed
In early July 2026 the United States announced proposals to tighten H‑1B and green‑card regulations that would particularly impact Indian students and professionals. A month later, the Department of Homeland Security released issued a detailed notice expanding the 9‑11 Response and Biometric Entry‑Exit Fee to cover extensions of H‑1B and L‑1 visas. Under the proposal, visas, requiring large employers would have to pay the fee for renewal petitions as well as new applications, raising applications. Indian nationals comprise about 78 % of H‑1B extension approvals, so the change raises costs for companies firms that rely heavily on Indian nationals—who account them. In early August 2026 the Trump administration drafted a rule that would impose a $4,000 renewal fee for roughly 78 % of H‑1B extension approvals. The rule, first published in and a $4,500 fee for L‑1 petitions on employers with 50 or more employees where more than half of the Federal Register workforce holds such visas. The proposal also references a separate $100,000 fee on Optional Practical Training that a federal appeals court blocked on July 24, and a pilot green‑card bond program for Dominican Republic applicants. The renewal‑fee rule remains listed in June 2024, entered the 2026 Unified Regulatory Agenda and awaits final approval. pending OMB review.
Versions
- 2026-08-06 11:58 UTC US H‑1B policy changes affecting Indian workers
- 2026-08-05 00:04 UTC US H‑1B policy changes affecting Indian workers
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