US Proposes Major Overhaul of Immigration Costs and Rules, Impacting Skilled Foreign Workers

The Trump administration is considering a major overhaul of US immigration costs and rules, with proposed changes that could significantly increase expenses for H-1B visa holders, F-1 students using Optional Practical Training (OPT), and American employers hiring skilled foreign workers. According to a notice published in the Federal Register on Monday, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proposing to raise the H-1B visa fee to $103,265. The proposed changes could have a particularly significant impact on Indians, who make up the largest share of H-1B beneficiaries. In 2024, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services approved 399,402 H-1B petitions, with Indian-born beneficiaries accounting for about 71 per cent of them. US May Scrap 60-Day Grace Period For H-1B Workers The proposed fee hike comes alongside another immigration policy change being considered by the DHS. Earlier this month, the department proposed ending the 60-day grace period currently available to certain H-1B workers after their employment ends. Under the existing system, eligible H-1B workers generally have up to 60 days to find another job, change their immigration status or make other arrangements before having to leave the US. If the proposed regulation is finalised, that protection could be removed in certain cases, potentially requiring affected workers and their dependants to leave the country much sooner. The proposed changes could therefore create additional uncertainty for foreign professionals and their families whose legal status depends on their employment. What is an H-1B visa? The H-1B is a US non-immigrant work visa that allows American employers to hire foreign professionals for specialised jobs requiring specialised knowledge, such as roles in technology, engineering, healthcare and finance. It is particularly important for highly skilled workers from countries including India.