H-1b

US federal judge strikes down Trump's proposed $100,000 H-1B visa fee

A federal judge on Monday ruled that the USD 100,000 fee imposed by US President Donald Trump for H-1B applications was unlawful as it did not have the approval of Congress. "...the Court finds that the Policy imposes a tax on H-1B petitions without the requisite delegation by Congress," US District Court judge Leo Sorokin in Boston, Massachusetts, said in a ruling. The H-1B programme is one of the most sought-after US work visas that allows American companies to hire skilled global talent. Trump's order proposing a USD 100,000 annual fee per H-1B worker left many uncertain about visa reforms and new requirements. In September last year, Trump signed a proclamation adding the USD 100,000 fee for new H-1B visa applications. The fees are generally paid for by a sponsoring employer, and administration officials have cast it as an initiative to encourage companies to hire Americans instead. "Here, the substance and application of the USD 100,000 payment reveal that it is a tax, regard

Bill in US Congress seeks to end H-1B visa as route to green card

A hardline Republican lawmaker has introduced a draft legislation in the US Congress seeking an overhaul of the H-1B visa programme, including ending its use as a pathway to permanent residency in the United States. Congressman Chip Roy introduced the American White-Collar Worker Jobs Act on Thursday. The proposed legislation also seeks to scrap the optional practical training (OPT) programme, which allows foreign students to work in the US for a limited period after graduation. "For its nearly forty-year history, the H-1B visa has been abused, allowing employers to routinely sideline American STEM workers in favour of cheap foreign labour, while masking layoffs and wage suppression as 'shortages.' "It's time to end this lottery-based pipeline and replace it with a system that prioritises merit, enforces real wage standards, and puts American white-collar workers first," said Roy, who represents the 21st district of Texas in Congress. The bill is backed by US Tech Workers, the ...

It's return of the natives as Indian techies' American dream fades

The flow of Indian technology professionals to the US is slowing, while the number returning to India is rising amid visa uncertainty, weaker hiring, and shifts in the global tech job market

H-1B visa workers are not undercutting US peers; they aren't cheap labour

Salaries of foreign professionals are higher than those of their American counterparts, particularly in the tech industry

Trump administration plans to raise cost of hiring H-1B workers by 30%

The new thresholds are ultimately likely to shrink opportunities for young talent as employers balk at paying more

Texas AG Ken Paxton launches probe in 'ghost offices' in alleged H-1B fraud

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Thursday launched investigations into 30 businesses in the state on suspected fraud and abuse of the H-1B visa programme by operating "ghost offices". The companies under investigation include Tekpro IT LLC, Fame PBX LLC, 1st Ranking Technologies LLC, Qubitz Tech Systems LLC, Blooming Clouds LLC, Virat Solutions, Inc., Oak Technologies Inc, Techpath Inc, and Techquency LLC, a statement from the Texas Attorney General's office said. "Attorney General Ken Paxton has issued Civil Investigative Demands ("CIDs") to nearly 30 North Texas businesses as part of an ongoing investigation into suspected fraud and abuse of the H-1B visa programme," it said. The statement said these companies are suspected of engaging in fraudulent practices designed to exploit the H-1B visa programme. "Reports indicate that several of these entities have operated so-called "ghost offices" as a scheme in which businesses falsely represent active operations in order to sponso

Republicans introduce bill for 3-year pause on H-1B visas in US Congress

A group of Republican lawmakers has introduced a bill in the US Congress for a three-year pause to the H1-B visa programme, contending that it has been hijacked to replace American workers with cheap foreign labour. Congressman Eli Crane from Arizona introduced the End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026, which was co-sponsored by seven other Republican lawmakers. The bill proposes reforms to the H-1B programme that include reducing the annual cap from 65,000 to 25,000 with a minimum wage of USD 2,00,000 per year and disallowing H-1B visa holders from bringing dependents to the US. Congressmen Brian Babin, Brandon Gill, Wesley Hunt, Keith Self (all from Texas), Andy Ogles (Tennessee), Paul Gosar (Arizona) and Tom McClintock (California) have signed on as original cosponsors of the bill. The H-1B visa programme is used extensively by American technology companies to employ foreign workers. Indian professionals, including technology workers and physicians, form one of the largest groups of

Indian professionals return home amid US visa uncertainty under Trump

Tightening US immigration policies and visa uncertainty are driving Indian professionals, including senior executives, to return home as job opportunities expand across India's fast-growing economy

Spouses of H-1B holders sue US govt over end of automatic work permits

The lawsuit challenges a recent DHS rule change, arguing it was imposed without due process and could force thousands of legally employed dependents to stop working amid visa renewal delays

Amazon allows H-1B employees stranded in India to work remotely till March

Amid prolonged US H-1B visa delays, Amazon has allowed affected staff in India to work from home until March 2026, but strict restrictions on coding, decision-making and client work remain in place

Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa application fee upheld by US federal judge

US District Judge Beryl Howell said in a ruling Tuesday that President Donald Trump's move to radically increase the cost of the popular visa is lawful

California, 18 more US states to sue Trump over $100K H-1B visa fee hike

States argue that the $100,000 H-1B fee exceeds presidential authority, could disrupt tech, healthcare, and education, and adds a costly barrier for employers hiring skilled foreign workers

'US benefited from talented Indians': Elon Musk on Nikhil Kamath's podcast

Speaking on Nikhil Kamath's podcast, Elon Musk said that while the H-1B visa programme has supported innovation in the US, certain companies have taken advantage of it

Trump won't allow US workers to be replaced: White House on H-1B visas

Recently, Trump has defended the H-1B visa programme, stating he "loves his conservative friends and MAGA" but believes the United States needs skilled foreign workers

President Trump praises H-1B talent, reinforces India's tech role

President Donald Trump's remarks recognising the importance of H-1B talent have renewed optimism among India's tech sector, though experts say the real impact depends on visa fee reforms

White House to fight lawsuits challenging $100K H-1B visa fee hike

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday (local time) claimed that the H-1B system has been exploited, driving down American wages

Tata Tech to hire more locals in US as Trump cracks down on immigration

Pune, India-based Tata Technologies does not disclose country-specific revenue or employee count, but North America accounted for roughly a fifth of its ₹5,168 crore revenue in 2024-25

Walmart pauses job offers to candidates requiring costly H-1B visas

The Trump administration last month slapped a $100,000 fee for new H-1B applications in a bid to overhaul the visa programme and curb overuse

Nvidia to keep sponsoring H-1B visas despite Trump's new $100K fee: Report

Trump's order bars new H-1B recipients from entering the United States unless the employer sponsoring their visa has made an additional $100,000 payment

'Trump has no authority': What lawsuit against $100,000 H-1B visa hike says

A US coalition of unions, employers and religious groups sued to block Trump's $100,000 annual H-1B visa fee announced last month, calling it unlawful and unfair to employers