US Visa Policy Changes: Why New H-1B, OPT and Green Card Measures Could Affect Indians

The Trump administration is moving ahead with a series of immigration measures that could make working, studying and settling in the United States considerably more expensive and complicated for foreign nationals. Indian students and technology professionals are likely to be closely affected because Indians represent a large share of the US skilled-worker population.

The measures cover several stages of the US immigration journey, from student visas and post-study employment to H-1B sponsorship and permanent residency. However, not all of the proposed changes have the same legal status. Some have already been announced or are scheduled to take effect, while others remain proposals or are being considered.

H-1B extensions could become more expensive

One of the measures expected to take effect from September 9 concerns H-1B extensions for certain large employers. Companies with at least 50 employees, where more than half of the workforce holds H-1B or L-1 status, would face a $4,000 charge for each H-1B extension and $4,500 for an L-1 extension.

The significant change is that the charge would extend beyond new recruitment or job changes. Employers could face the additional expense when workers renew their existing status.

This could have implications for Indian IT professionals who spend several years working on assignments in the US and require periodic visa extensions. Higher employer costs could influence decisions about overseas staffing and future sponsorship.

Proposed H-1B fee could create another major hurdle

A separate proposal published on August 24 could introduce a $103,265 charge for every new H-1B petition submitted under the annual cap.

The annual cap covers 85,000 visas, including 20,000 places for foreign students who have earned a US master's degree or higher. If adopted, the proposed payment would come on top of other existing H-1B-related expenses.

For employers, the financial impact could be substantial. Sponsoring 100 workers under such a system would mean more than $10 million in this proposed fee alone.

The proposal is currently going through the regulatory process, with a public comment period before the government decides whether to issue a final rule.

The earlier $100,000 H-1B entry fee remains uncertain

Another $100,000 H-1B fee announced in 2025 has already faced a legal challenge. A federal judge in Boston struck down the measure in June 2026, finding that the charge amounted to a tax that should have been imposed by Congress rather than through presidential authority.

The administration has appealed that decision. The measure is also scheduled to expire in September unless it is extended.

The issue is particularly important for Indians because they accounted for about 70% of H-1B workers in fiscal year 2025. Any major increase in the cost of hiring foreign professionals could therefore have an outsized effect on Indian applicants and employers that depend on them.

Higher wage requirements could change hiring decisions

The US Department of Labor has also proposed increasing the prevailing wage levels applicable to several categories of foreign workers, including those on H-1B and PERM pathways.

The current system divides jobs into four wage levels based on factors such as experience and seniority. The proposed changes would raise the salary thresholds across those levels.

The largest increase would reportedly affect entry-level positions, where the minimum could rise by around 30%. Since many Indian professionals work in the lower and middle wage categories, the change could increase the cost of employing them.

For companies, that could mean higher payroll expenses when sponsoring foreign workers. It may also encourage some employers to reconsider whether certain positions should be filled through international hiring.

International students face tighter rules

The changes are not limited to employment visas. A new rule scheduled for September 15 would replace the previous “duration of status” arrangement for F-1 students with a fixed admission period of up to four years.

Students enrolled in programmes that take longer than four years could need additional approval to remain in the country and finish their education.

The post-study grace period would also be reduced from 60 days to 30 days. For Indian students pursuing longer academic programmes, these changes could add more paperwork and reduce the time available to arrange their next immigration status.

Possible $100,000 OPT charge could affect Indian graduates

Another proposal under consideration could have an even more direct impact on international students.

The administration is considering a $100,000 fee for Optional Practical Training, or OPT. The programme currently allows eligible international graduates on F-1 visas to work in the US after completing their studies, generally in employment connected with their field of education.

OPT has traditionally served as an important bridge between an American university education and longer-term employment options, including H-1B sponsorship.

Indian students form the largest national group among international students using the US education system. More than 363,000 Indian students were enrolled at US institutions during the 2024-25 academic year, according to US government data. A six-figure OPT charge could therefore make the post-graduation work route financially unrealistic for many students.

Green card applicants could also face a financial requirement

The administration is additionally examining a proposal for a refundable bond of up to $100,000 for certain immigrant visa applicants seeking permanent residence through consular processing.

Under the idea being considered, the bond could be returned after the applicant becomes a US citizen, generally following the required period of permanent residence.

The proposal has not yet reached the Federal Register and could initially be tested among applicants from selected countries.

What it means for Indians

Taken together, the measures could raise the financial and administrative barriers at almost every stage of the US migration pathway: university study, post-study employment, skilled-worker sponsorship and permanent residency.

For Indian professionals, the biggest concern is the potential combination of higher employer costs and increased wage requirements. For students, a costly OPT system and tighter F-1 stay rules could make the traditional study-to-work pathway less attractive.

However, several of the measures remain proposals, while others are subject to court challenges or further government action. Their final form could therefore change before implementation.

For now, Indian students, workers and prospective immigrants will need to distinguish carefully between rules already scheduled to take effect and proposals that are still being debated.