New Delhi: The current steep hike in H-1B visa charges in the US could present sudden aid to some high-skilled professionals. President Donald Trump has raised the payment to $100,000, creating hurdles for brand spanking new candidates.
Nonetheless, authorized specialists and recruitment specialists counsel this transfer might open doorways for professionals just lately laid off by corporations resembling Microsoft, Oracle, Intel and AWS. The payment applies solely to new visa candidates. Present H-1B holders, these renewing visas, transferring employers or re-entering the US stay exempt.
Navneet S. Chugh, an immigration lawyer with Chugh LLC, defined that some laid-off staff may very well be rehired. He highlighted that the U.S. authorities has clearly said that the brand new payment doesn’t have an effect on current H-1B visa holders, transfers or renewals.
Potential Alternatives
In accordance with Trueup, a portal monitoring layoffs, U.S. tech corporations have performed 533 rounds of layoffs in 2025 thus far, impacting 144,926 staff. As compared, 2024 noticed 1,115 rounds of layoffs affecting 238,461 staff.
Sachin Alug, CEO of NLB Companies, highlighted that corporations following the principles might shortly rehire just lately laid-off H-1B professionals. These already holding H-1B visas can switch to new employers with out collaborating within the lottery once more, saving each money and time.
Beneath the H-1B programme, laid-off staff have 60 days to discover a new job or depart the US. A product supervisor primarily based in Mountain View, California, who misplaced his job on September 8, mentioned he initially feared his U.S. profession was over. After clarification in regards to the payment exemption for current visa holders, he mentioned he felt renewed hope and was actively making use of for brand spanking new positions with recruitment calls anticipated inside every week.
Affect On Visa Possibilities
Signet Chengappa KG, director and enterprise head at Adecco India, mentioned many laid-off professionals might shortly discover new alternatives or obtain higher affords from different corporations. This can create a prepared pool of expert expertise in essential fields resembling expertise, engineering and digital providers.
The H-1B lottery in 2026 may be much less aggressive for these in a position to pay the $100,000 payment, as employers are more likely to submit fewer purposes, rising the possibilities of choice.
VisaNation Legislation Group information reveals that in 2025, H-1B visa probabilities had been solely 16.92% for candidates with a bachelor’s diploma and 33.93% for these with a grasp’s diploma. Final 12 months, the lottery noticed 470,342 registrations, down from 758,994 in FY24, on account of new anti-fraud measures.
Managing lawyer Shilpa Malik expects one other 50-60% decline subsequent 12 months, bringing complete registrations between 190,000 and 235,000.
The payment hike, whereas designed to restrict new candidates, could inadvertently assist just lately displaced professionals safe new roles and preserve their careers in the US, providing a silver lining amid difficult circumstances.