A federal court in the United States has canceled the massive increase in H-1B visa fees introduced by former President Donald Trump, offering major relief to thousands of foreign professionals and American companies.
The H-1B visa program was introduced in 1990 to allow US employers to hire skilled foreign workers on a temporary basis, especially in sectors such as information technology, healthcare, finance, and research. Earlier, H-1B visa fees ranged between $1,000 and $7,500.
In September last year, Donald Trump announced a sharp increase in the H-1B visa fee, raising it to $100,000. The decision faced strong opposition from multinational companies, technology firms, and members of the Democratic Party, who argued that the hike would make it difficult for businesses to recruit global talent.
Following the announcement, 20 US states, including California, Massachusetts, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, and Minnesota, filed a lawsuit in the Federal Court of Massachusetts in December, challenging the fee increase.
After hearing the case, Federal Judge Leo T. Sorokin ruled that the fee hike was unlawful because it was introduced without approval from the US Congress. The court therefore struck down the increase, restoring the previous fee structure.
Reacting to the judgment, Donald Trump criticized the decision, saying that federal judges have become a major challenge and that court rulings are working against the country’s interests.
The US government issues around 65,000 H-1B visas every year, with Indian professionals accounting for nearly 73% of all recipients. As a result, the court’s decision has been widely welcomed by Indian IT professionals and companies that rely on skilled international workers.
Kuldeep Kumar, an Indian professional working in the United States, said that leading technology companies, hospitals, financial institutions, and research organizations regularly hire Indian experts. According to him, the proposed fee increase would have significantly affected both employers and employees, and the court’s ruling has brought relief to businesses across the country.
Industry experts believe the decision will help US companies continue attracting highly skilled global talent while reducing financial pressure on employers sponsoring H-1B workers. It is also expected to benefit thousands of Indian engineers, software developers, and other professionals seeking career opportunities in the United States.
