Kathmandu. US President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order increasing the H-1B visa fee to $100,000 per year. Trump’s move is expected to adversely affect thousands of foreign professionals working in the US.
Currently, H-1B visa fees range from about $2,000 to $5,000, depending on the size of the employer and other costs. According to industry body Nasscom, the US move to raise the H-1B visa application fee to $ 100,000 will affect technology services companies. Because it will hinder the continuity of business of projects operating abroad. This may require adjustment.
The H-1B visa, which is very popular among foreign professionals, is valid for three years and can be renewed for an additional three years. Trump’s decision will have a profound impact on H-1B visa professionals employed by companies in various fields, including technology.
According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website, Amazon topped the list with 10,044 H-1B visas approved for the fiscal year 2025 (as of June 30, 2025). TCA (5,505) is second in the list of top 10 beneficiaries. It was followed by Microsoft Corp (5,189), Meta (5,123), Apple (4,202), Google (4,181), Cognizant (2,493), JPMorgan Chase (2,440), Walmart (2,390) and Deloitte Consulting (2,353). Infosys (2,004), LTI Mindtree (1,807) and HCL America (1,728) are in the top 20 list.
Trump said in the declaration that the H-1B visa program was designed to bring temporary workers to the US. “They can do more high-skilled work. “Instead of helping American workers, they were deliberately misused to replace low-paid, low-skilled workers,” Trump said. Domestic law enforcement agencies have identified and investigated H-1B-based outsourcing companies involved in visa fraud, money laundering conspiracy and other illicit activities that encourage foreign workers to come to the United States. ’
