WASHINGTON – A wave of panic among H-1B visa holders was calmed this weekend after the White House issued an official clarification regarding the new $100,000 visa fee. Concerns had mounted following a presidential proclamation, with many Indian nationals, who comprise a majority of H-1B holders, fearing they would have to pay the hefty fee or rush back to the United States by a looming deadline.
The official further clarified, as quoted in a previous a media report, that the steep H-1B visa charge will apply “ONLY to new visa petitions and not to renewals.”
So what happens if you miss the deadline?
As panic build, the White House on Saturday issued a three-point clarification that the new $100,000 fee for H-1B visas in the United States that goes into effect on September 21 will be levied per petition and will not be applied to existing holders of valid visas re-entering the country or renewals. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt took to X on Saturday and wrote:
To be clear:
1.) This is NOT an annual fee. It’s a one-time fee that applies only to the petition.
2.) Those who already hold H-1B visas and are currently outside of the country right now will NOT be charged $100,000 to re-enter.
3.) This applies only to new visas, not renewals, and not current visa holders.
This exemption is a significant relief for thousands of professionals currently on vacation or business trips abroad. The official clarification underscores that the new policy does not impact the ability of any current visa holder to travel to and from the United States, allaying fears of being stranded.
Furthermore, “Indian nationals seeking emergency assistance may call cell number 1-202-550-9931 (and WhatsApp). This number should be used only by Indian nationals seeking immediate emergency assistance and not for routine consular queries,” The Indian Embassy in the US said in a post on X.
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