Anxiety levels are running high among Indian students – those currently in the US as well as those planning to go there for higher studies – as they grapple with the implications of the H-1B visa fee hike and what the bigger picture in Trump’s protectionist regime means for their staying back prospects and careers.
While White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt clarified that the $100,000 fee would be one-time and applies only to new petitions, contradicting commerce secretary Howard Lutnick’s earlier statement that it would be an annual payment for three years, the constant back-and-forth on various issues amid a wave of anti-immigration sentiment has left most worried and unsure about what the future holds.
Education consultants said many students who were applying for the Fall 2026 session are now actively looking at other destinations, including Europe, the Middle East, Canada and Australia. Those who graduated in 2022 or 2023 and are currently on their STEM F-1 visas are apprehensive that it’ll get tougher finding recruiters to sponsor the hefty $100,000 fee for their H-1B visa applications. For non-STEM students, prospects are even bleaker.
H-1B applications previously cost only a few thousand dollars. The annual limit for this work permit is 65,000 for regular visas with an additional 20,000 spots for advanced degree holders from US universities.
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The STEM F-1 visa is a 24-month work authorisation for F-1 (student) visa holders who have earned a degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics and completed their initial 12-month optional practical training (OPT). After this period, individuals can apply for H-1B.
Rajiv Ganjoo, founder and chief executive of edtech consulting firm Admitas said he has been fielding non-stop calls from students since the announcement.
“It’s completely chaotic now,” said Ganjoo. “Students looking for US education are having second thoughts. They are thinking about what will happen if something suddenly goes wrong after investing so much. The H-1B process has become so much more expensive; they don’t know what will happen with the STEM F-1 visa.”
“Now people have to look at routes like getting their employers to send them to a different location and then get them back on an L-1 (intracompany transfer) visa after working one year in a managerial capacity,” said Ganjoo. “This is already happening, but will likely escalate. Then the worry is: will L-1 be Trump’s target next?”
According to Adarsh Khandelwal, cofounder of Collegify, while Indian students spread across all tiers of colleges and universities will be affected, those of non-STEM subjects will be the hardest hit. “Even before this steep hike, with the three-year OPT opportunities, it was the STEM students in whose favour the scales tipped. However, it is too early to say anything considering the dynamic situation right now,” he said.
“A student currently pursuing higher education in the US will probably be the most affected if this order sticks. This would directly threaten the post-study work pathway in the US, which is one of the biggest draws of pursuing higher education there,” said Ankit Mehra, CEO of GyanDhan, an education financing marketplace.
People should start looking for job opportunities outside the US to safeguard their future; while students planning to go to the US next year or later, need to start working on a Plan B outside the US, Mehra said. “As with all things with Trump, outcomes remain unpredictable," he added.
However, Karan Gupta, founder of the eponymous career consultancy, strikes a more hopeful note. He says that while the rules are evolving, the US still values global talent, and students should not let this deter them from pursuing their aspirations.
“The increase in H-1B visa fees is understandably worrying for international students, but it’s important to remember that this fee is directed at petitions and employers, not students directly. Larger firms will likely continue to hire talent, though smaller companies may hesitate,” said Gupta. “Students currently studying in the US or planning to go should stay focused on building strong profiles, because high-quality talent will remain in demand.”
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While White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt clarified that the $100,000 fee would be one-time and applies only to new petitions, contradicting commerce secretary Howard Lutnick’s earlier statement that it would be an annual payment for three years, the constant back-and-forth on various issues amid a wave of anti-immigration sentiment has left most worried and unsure about what the future holds.
Education consultants said many students who were applying for the Fall 2026 session are now actively looking at other destinations, including Europe, the Middle East, Canada and Australia. Those who graduated in 2022 or 2023 and are currently on their STEM F-1 visas are apprehensive that it’ll get tougher finding recruiters to sponsor the hefty $100,000 fee for their H-1B visa applications. For non-STEM students, prospects are even bleaker.
H-1B applications previously cost only a few thousand dollars. The annual limit for this work permit is 65,000 for regular visas with an additional 20,000 spots for advanced degree holders from US universities.
(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)
The STEM F-1 visa is a 24-month work authorisation for F-1 (student) visa holders who have earned a degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics and completed their initial 12-month optional practical training (OPT). After this period, individuals can apply for H-1B.
Rajiv Ganjoo, founder and chief executive of edtech consulting firm Admitas said he has been fielding non-stop calls from students since the announcement.
“It’s completely chaotic now,” said Ganjoo. “Students looking for US education are having second thoughts. They are thinking about what will happen if something suddenly goes wrong after investing so much. The H-1B process has become so much more expensive; they don’t know what will happen with the STEM F-1 visa.”
“Now people have to look at routes like getting their employers to send them to a different location and then get them back on an L-1 (intracompany transfer) visa after working one year in a managerial capacity,” said Ganjoo. “This is already happening, but will likely escalate. Then the worry is: will L-1 be Trump’s target next?”
According to Adarsh Khandelwal, cofounder of Collegify, while Indian students spread across all tiers of colleges and universities will be affected, those of non-STEM subjects will be the hardest hit. “Even before this steep hike, with the three-year OPT opportunities, it was the STEM students in whose favour the scales tipped. However, it is too early to say anything considering the dynamic situation right now,” he said.
“A student currently pursuing higher education in the US will probably be the most affected if this order sticks. This would directly threaten the post-study work pathway in the US, which is one of the biggest draws of pursuing higher education there,” said Ankit Mehra, CEO of GyanDhan, an education financing marketplace.
People should start looking for job opportunities outside the US to safeguard their future; while students planning to go to the US next year or later, need to start working on a Plan B outside the US, Mehra said. “As with all things with Trump, outcomes remain unpredictable," he added.
However, Karan Gupta, founder of the eponymous career consultancy, strikes a more hopeful note. He says that while the rules are evolving, the US still values global talent, and students should not let this deter them from pursuing their aspirations.
“The increase in H-1B visa fees is understandably worrying for international students, but it’s important to remember that this fee is directed at petitions and employers, not students directly. Larger firms will likely continue to hire talent, though smaller companies may hesitate,” said Gupta. “Students currently studying in the US or planning to go should stay focused on building strong profiles, because high-quality talent will remain in demand.”
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