Washington – The new U.S. visa policy has raised concerns across the IT industries of India and other Asian countries, following an executive order recently signed by the U.S. President. Under the new policy, the H-1B work visa fee has been increased to $100,000, applicable to new visa applications.
According to U.S. officials, the new policy will not affect individuals who already hold an H-1B visa or those renewing it, but new applicants will be required to pay the revised fee.
Experts say the Indian IT sector will be the hardest hit, as it sends thousands of engineers and IT professionals to the U.S. every year. In 2024, India accounted for 71% of all issued H-1B visas, followed by China at 11.7%, while Pakistan held less than 1%, ranking eighth overall.
Immigration attorney Naeem Sukhia stated that this policy will also affect Pakistan’s IT, engineering, and education sectors, due to the significant increase in sponsorship costs. However, he added that fields like nursing and healthcare may be exempt from the new policy.
Analysts believe the U.S. government’s move is aimed at immigration control and protecting local jobs, but warn that it could lead to imbalances in the global talent market.
