Though the US clarified that the fee will be a one-time payment and not applicable to those now holding H-1B visas, those working in that country remained sceptical.
Published Sep 21, 2025 | 11:30 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 21, 2025 | 11:30 AM
H1B visa. Representative Image. (iStock)
Synopsis: Confusion reigned till the White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, issued a clarification on Saturday, 20 September, saying that the hiked fee will apply only to new visas. The fee will be a one-time payment. Till the clarification came, immigrant communities scrambled for clarity, while fear had already begun to seep deep into the diaspora.
For hundreds of young professionals from Kerala who moved to the United States chasing stability, prosperity, and the promise of the so-called American dream, the executive order was nothing short of a nightmare.
A sudden proclamation by US President Donald Trump, mandating a hefty fee of $100,000 per H-1B visa, has thrown lives and livelihoods into disarray.
Confusion reigned till the White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, issued a clarification on Saturday, 20 September, saying that the hiked fee will apply only to new visas. The fee will be a one-time payment. Till the clarification came, immigrant communities scrambled for clarity, while fear had already begun to seep deep into the diaspora.
For Thiruvananthapuram-born tech professional Suresh, who moved to New Jersey in 2022 with his wife, the proclamation felt like the rug had been pulled from under his feet.
He joined a small healthcare startup building AI tools for hospitals and thought he had finally found stability. His initial reaction to the proclamation was one of shock.
An internal message from Microsoft following the executive order
His wife, who left her job in Kerala to join him, is equally shaken. The couple had just begun setting down roots in America.
“We just started building a life here, and now it feels like we are no longer welcome,” he said.
The anxiety resonates widely.
Neha, an IT professional from Kozhikode working in Houston since 2021, said her mid-level IT services firm has already signaled a rethink.
“My manager confided that leadership is seriously considering reducing H-1B staff,” she said.
“If I lose this visa, I not only lose my job but also the stability we’ve worked for. Going back home will feel like a forced return, not a choice,” she added.
While the proclamation has rattled immigrant workers, questions remain about its legality.
Jay, a Thiruvananthapuram native who now holds a US green card, pointed to a constitutional hurdle:
“Under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, only Congress can authorise the collection of money. The president cannot unilaterally impose such a fee.”
Although Trump’s Republican allies in Congress could push enabling legislation, experts believe the measure could face stiff challenges in federal courts.
But legal ambiguities are cold comfort to professionals facing immediate uncertainty.
According to Jay, several companies have begun cautioning employees: “If you are in H-1B status and in the US, remain here for the foreseeable future. If you are abroad, return immediately before the deadline,” the message read.
For Prathyush, a lead engineer with a Philadelphia-based IT firm, the sudden order is as confusing as it is alarming.
“As of now, there’s no absolute clarity on the executive order — not even the employers have it. Since it came over the weekend, most of us will probably have to wait until Monday to hear from our companies’ immigration attorneys,” he said.
An info card released by a US-based consultancy firm following the executive order – the info card is based on assumptions and may not be authentic
But one thing, he insists, is clear: the US job market for the past five-six months was slowing.
“Major companies have stopped hiring H-1B visa holders, and this order could make things even worse. Fresh graduates, in particular, will feel the brunt of it. The ‘American dream’ that many students nurture may be shattered, and I fear student inflow to the U.S. will decline sharply.”
Already, consultancy firms are circulating advisories on who might be affected, but nothing is concrete.
What’s spreading faster is the fear.
For hundreds of Malayali professionals — from Houston to New Jersey and Philadelphia — the worry is not just about visas but about dreams deferred, lives disrupted, and futures suddenly uncertain.
As Neha put it bluntly: “Overnight, the pathway for professionals like us has turned into a dead end. And it’s not just me — it’s hundreds who nursed the US dream.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday said it is examining the full implications of the United States’ move to raise the H-1B visa application fee to $1,00,000 annually, a decision signed into effect by President Donald Trump a day earlier.
The statement was issued before Leavitt clarified.
Emphasising the importance of skilled talent mobility, the ministry highlighted that exchanges between India and the US have significantly contributed to innovation, technology growth, and strong economic ties.
It also cautioned that the move could have humanitarian consequences by disrupting families, expressing hope that US authorities would address such concerns appropriately.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
