Satish, a graduate student from India studying in San Francisco, anticipated that this fall would focus on completing his business degree and securing an H-1B visa, the critical work permit for skilled immigrants in the United States. Instead, he is now concerned about his career prospects due to the Trump administration’s proposal to increase the H-1B application fee to $100,000.
“When someone moves here, they move with the motive of working hard and building something better,” Satish stated, requesting anonymity to protect his visa status. “With everything that’s going on, no one is willing to speak up. They’re scared of their statuses.”
President Donald Trump presented the proposed fee hike as part of his initiative to protect American jobs and enhance national security. In a separate announcement, he introduced a “Trump Gold Card” visa program, which would allow individuals to gain U.S. residency for $1 million.
The H-1B visa proposal has alarmed companies that have traditionally relied on the program to attract global talent, particularly in California’s technology sector, which depends heavily on skilled computer programmers, data analysts, and engineers. The abrupt nature of this change—set to go into effect the following Sunday—coupled with uncertainty about whether it would impact existing visa holders, has added to the turmoil. Companies have urged affected employees to return to the U.S. immediately, advising them against international travel.
Reports emerged of panic among passengers on an Emirates flight from San Francisco to Dubai upon hearing the news. Many paced in the cabin, checking their phones and requesting to disembark. Although regulations typically prohibit movement once the cabin doors have closed, the Emirates pilot announced that it was understandable if some passengers did not wish to travel due to the unprecedented situation.
Just one day after the announcement, the White House clarified that the fee would apply only to new applicants beginning with the next lottery cycle. However, this clarification did little to alleviate the anxiety felt by current visa holders.
Consequently, many large companies are now assessing the implications for their recruitment strategies. High-profile firms such as Google, Apple, and Meta employ thousands of H-1B visa holders, while universities and hospitals across the country rely on these visas to attract faculty and researchers. For international graduate students, the H-1B visa is a vital pathway to remaining in the U.S. after graduation. Of the annually issued 85,000 visas, 20,000 are reserved for holders of advanced U.S. degrees. Demand consistently exceeds supply; more than 470,000 applications were submitted in the 2025 fiscal year lottery.
Some business organizations have previously called for reforms to the H-1B system, citing its overuse by outsourcing firms, while others have advocated for expanding the program to address critical labor shortages.
The timing of Trump’s announcement left companies and immigration lawyers with little opportunity to prepare. Karin Wolman, an immigration lawyer based in New York, criticized the move as unlawful, arguing that fees should correlate with processing costs and undergo a public comment process.
“This measure aims to make the H-1B visa unattainable for entry-level professionals fresh out of college or grad school,” Wolman explained. “Only the most senior professionals at large, financially capable companies will be able to afford it. Startups, smaller firms, and nonprofits will struggle to compete, impacting critical sectors like healthcare significantly.”
At San Francisco International Airport, a key portal for the Bay Area tech industry and leading educational institutions, confusion and uncertainty permeated the atmosphere. Public employees, medical trainees, and students on temporary visas expressed their concerns about the potential consequences of the policy change.
Some individuals have already decided on their next steps. Satish reported that he knew of at least two dozen acquaintances who were contemplating returning to India after the announcement. Others have reduced their social media presence, fearful that online discussions could complicate their visa situations, especially given the Trump administration’s implementation of social media vetting in some visa processes.
Many international students are now seeking guidance from social media figures like Yash Mittra and Soundarya Balasubramani, who have garnered substantial followings among immigrants seeking to navigate changing U.S. immigration policies.
For Hari B., an employee of the city of Rancho Cordova near Sacramento, the announcement raised immediate concerns. Having gone through the H-1B process himself, he recalled paying approximately $6,000 in sponsorship fees six years ago when he first arrived in the U.S. He currently earns a government salary significantly lower than what tech workers earn.
“Starting with a salary of $50,000 and now looking at $100,000 just for my application sponsorship feels completely unrealistic,” Hari said after landing at San Francisco International Airport, where he learned about the proposal. He indicated that friends rapidly reached out to him, querying whether his past visa status might complicate his travel plans.
The long-term implications of the H-1B visa changes remain uncertain. N.S., a Turkish medical graduate who has trained in the U.S. on a J-1 visa and currently holds a temporary B-1 visa, noted his plans to leave the U.S. for a couple of years before applying for an H-1B. However, he considered the fee increase yet another indication of the instability inherent in the immigration system.
Assistance was provided by Leen Al-Rashdan.
