Industry Body Warns New U.S. H-1B Visa Fee Could Disrupt Indian IT Operations

India’s IT industry association, Nasscom, said on Saturday that a new $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications could disrupt the global operations of Indian technology service companies that deploy skilled professionals to the United States.

The White House announced the fee on Friday, prompting several major U.S. tech firms to advise visa holders to remain in the country or return quickly. The move marks Washington’s most high-profile attempt yet to overhaul the temporary employment visa system.

Nasscom, which represents India’s $283 billion IT and business process outsourcing sector, said the abrupt rollout would hit Indian nationals and jeopardize continuity on ongoing onshore projects handled by Indian firms.

The one-day compliance window has created “significant uncertainty for businesses, professionals, and students worldwide,” the group said, adding that the policy could have “ripple effects” on the U.S. innovation ecosystem and global labor markets, forcing companies to adjust for “substantial additional costs.”

According to internal emails reviewed by Reuters, Microsoft (MSFT.O), JPMorgan (JPM.N), and Amazon (AMZN.O) responded to the announcement by advising H-1B visa holders to remain in the United States.

Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has launched a sweeping crackdown on immigration, including moves to restrict certain forms of legal entry.