HomeAmericasIndo AmericaUS Proposes Massive Hike In H-1B, Visa Fees

US Proposes Massive Hike In H-1B, Visa Fees

US Proposes Massive Hike In H-1B, Visa Fees

WASHINGTON, (IANS) -The US has proposed a steep hike in fees for immigration and naturalization benefits, with the heftiest jumps slated for employment-based categories such as H-1B temporary work visas for specialty occupations, whose principal beneficiaries have been Indian, and intra-company transfers.

The fee for pre-registration for H-1B visas is proposed to go up by a massive 2,050 percent from $10 currently to $215, 70 percent for H-1 category that includes H-1B from $460 to $780, 201 percent for L visa for intra-company transfers to the US, from $460 to $1,385, and 129 percent for O category for workers with extraordinary skills.

EB-5 visas for investors and entrepreneurs – also called the millionaires’ visa – will also become expensive, going up by 204 percent to $11,160 from $3,675 currently.

Some charges are proposed to remain the same, especially premium processing of all kinds of visas – at $2,500 – and some are slated to be reduced.

The US grants around 85,000 visas under the H-1B program to foreigners to work at US companies to make good the shortage of locally available hands in specialty occupations. Around 75 percent of these visas go to Indians, employed either from US schools and colleges or from India.

The proposed hikes were published in the Federal Register – the US version of the Indian Gazette – on Tuesday by the Department of Homeland Security, which is the mother agency of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services tasked with processing immigration and naturalization requests.

The proposed rule will be open to comments and challenges for the next 60 days, at the conclusion of which period they will either be notified at the proposed or modified rates.

The USCIS chalked up the proposed hike to the need for funds for its operations, which, it said, come mostly from these fees – at 98 percent – and not from congressional appropriation.

“The proposed fee rule is the result of a comprehensive fee review at USCIS. That review determined that the agency’s current fees, which have remained unchanged since 2016, fall far short of recovering the full cost of agency operations,” the agency said justifying the hike.

The agency’s 2020 revenue shrank by 40 percent due to the Covid-19 epidemic, the agency said, adding: “The combination of depleted cash reserves, a temporary hiring freeze, and workforce attrition has reduced the agency’s capacity to timely adjudicate cases, particularly as incoming caseloads rebound to pre-pandemic levels. Increasing demand for low- or no-fee humanitarian programs has added to these fiscal challenges.”

The proposed hikes are expected to increase USCIS’s annual yield from $3.28 billion in 2022-2023 with the current rates to $5.2 billion over the same period. These rates were last revised in 2016.

In an FAQ, the USCIS defended the 2,050 percent hike in pre-registration fee for H-1B petitions. While acknowledging the hike may seem “dramatic”, it said the $10 fee was established in 2019 simply to cover a small portion of the costs of the program, as opposed to no fee at all.

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  • STOP issuing H-1 visas altogether and only issue J-1 visas which makes them go back to India for 2 years minimum.
    H-1 is supposed to be temporary but NOBODY thinks it is temporary. They panic if there is a layoff. Why?

    January 4, 2023
    • That would never happen. Do you know how much money US colleges are receiving from international students. Any idea how much of this goes to taxes and help the govt in many other ways. Students come here only coz there’s an option to work after grad school, if you take away that option, do you think anyone would even consider US schools.

      January 5, 2023
      • Are only Indians immigrants in USA??? Just because US IT industry is majorly run by Indians and Asians , many US grads are not getting jobs. This does not justify the amendments. Understand the weakness too. Hiding issues will not solve them. US is enjoying the benefits because every person working here pays taxes.

        January 5, 2023
      • With the level of education and reputation of usa degrees ofcourse they .Many millions of international students not just from china and india have the money and more then glad would.if whole organization makes 5 billion 10 percent 500 million the ca lottery pays more.h1 visa is destroying America

        January 5, 2023
      • I’m interested in getting a job overseas I can be contacted at 8764873374

        January 5, 2023
      • Hey Dale, most universities are public and collect no taxes from tuition. Plus recall universities are mostly NGOs nonprofits. Private universities are for nongrads whose parents pay heavy tuition, however all for profit get to subtract university costs which are many. If the university is a profit organization then their profits are taxed about 20% on all students’ payments and not just foreign students’ payments. Thus, IRS does not collect but a fractional amount from foreign student enrollment.

        January 6, 2023
    • Without H1 american IT industry cannot survive

      January 5, 2023
      • It will I am USA citizen with 7 years experience not able to get job with good pay because it is very hard to compete with Indians.

        January 5, 2023
        • Become more smarter and knowledgeable than indians

          January 5, 2023
          • Thats right !!

            January 6, 2023
        • David, if you’re not competent enough to get a job in your own country, I’m afraid you only have yourself to blame.

          January 5, 2023
        • Why do you think it’s tough to compete with Indians? Are u lack of talent? Salary I would say Indians dominate.

          January 5, 2023
        • Relatively speaking, indian students with their free educations who are free of student debt can work for food. And it’s our inefficient university-industrial complex who bankrupts American students and then has to import indian grad students who will work for food because Americans are forced to quit school and find a job to pay their $100k student loan debts. So I hope indian tech workers realize how unfair their country and government is to American children! This should end!

          January 5, 2023
        • Then, you’re probably not very good at what you do if you can’t find a job. Trust me, it’s not because of the Indians, or any other immigrants. It’s because of your incompetence.

          January 6, 2023
        • Maybe your not good enough to compete

          January 6, 2023
      • Please, I will need help to talked to an official of the agency to educate me more or to assist me learned more about International Employment. Also, whether I need to registered with the Homeland Security as an agency.
        Thank you for making America great.

        January 5, 2023
      • Ofcourse ot can with it it would not survive the companies are getting greedy and not putting american interest first..with its expansion america is breaking

        January 5, 2023
    • Racist alert!

      January 5, 2023
      • That’s not racist. It’s real!!!!

        January 5, 2023
      • It’s NOT Racist… It’s REAL!

        January 5, 2023
    • H1B is temporary but it’s dual intent visa which means people on H1b are allowed to think about permanently settling down. And that’s what most people do. Nothing wrong in that.

      January 5, 2023
    • They panic if there is a layoff because they have apartment leases, children in school, car loans…

      January 5, 2023
      • Correct 💯

        I personally know someone, he have been in H1B since 11 years bought 5 properties in Bay area and rented out , 1 restaurant and making around $43000 still he is saying his target is to make $50000 month.

        January 5, 2023
        • That’s the kind of entrepreneurial spirit that you would think America and Americans would appreciate. He isn’t stealing from anyone, he’s just building his own business. Isn’t that what the country is about?

          January 5, 2023
      • Ok but they should teview terms of it and understand what they signed up for nothing more..a temporary job that can change at any moment of us interest .a non citizen cannot demand when the counrty has to put interest of its citizens first .just like people getting visa should be held first but their counrty of origin

        January 5, 2023
    • They panic because the way US treats these people. If you enter US illegally you get all the benefits and if you enter with H1 legally and stay on H1 because of backlog of green card but pay in to Social Security and all taxes and contribute to US economy and than after 10-15 year you are told that you have to uproot and leave. How would you feel if you were in their shoes. Specifically if you were doing everything legally and not being a burden on US tax payers instead contributing to the system. Please don’t judge until you have facts

      January 5, 2023
      • 👍👍👍👍

        January 5, 2023
    • Go fUk yourself cry baby looser..

      January 5, 2023
    • First do you understand what is H1Visa ? It is for dual intent .

      January 5, 2023
  • Perfect comment from a guy named MOE.

    January 5, 2023
  • LOL. H1 visa, border crossing, Asylum,Amnesty they all come under ‘VOTE BANK’

    January 5, 2023
  • I think that they need to start giving only J-1 visas. Most the H-1 visa holders make have very good salaries. There is no reason why they can’t pay, US makes it very easy for them to stay in this country.

    January 5, 2023
    • You want the most law abiding, most prosperous, and entrepreneurial group to be limited in their presence. Doesn’t sound American to me.

      January 5, 2023
      • Actually what our country needs to do is subsidize public education for engineers and doctors because tuition is too expensive for low income students. We just don’t free public education like Norway, Sweden and dozens of other countries like Guatemala. We don’t need foreign tech except marginally.
        Second point: raise American salaries to attract American workers. American companies want to pay low wages to foreign workers instead. Companies want immigrant workers so their profits are higher. My proposal is within 6 years our country can solve this so-called shortage. Don’t dare say American young people are too stupid, because all data suggests otherwise.

        January 6, 2023
  • Normally I130 take max 12 to 15 month I herd some wating for 3 yer I don’t know what going on ?

    January 5, 2023
  • Just Milking , Indians should boycott onsites for 3 years just like bollywood that will bring them to their knees .

    January 5, 2023
  • Is that most h1b goes to Indian workers brought here by outsourcing firms, its human trafficking and should be stopped. For US tech companies, if you need someone, hire them full ti.e, or ship your projects to India, do not bring people here to burden the immigration system. The outsourcing should be stopped.

    January 5, 2023
  • America has been built on Immigrants for years. Everyone here came from different country, May be current generations or their ancestors.
    So don’t judge on H1’s, they are living here legally and paying taxes for years and spending most of their life here.
    If you don’t allow H1’s then all tech companies and their associated companies will move out of country, so you lose multiple ways and don’t get any free benefits you are currently enjoying by sitting lazy and making racial comments.

    January 5, 2023
    • Too many racists people here. America is running only because of people from other countries.

      January 5, 2023
  • If iwill chance iwould profite organation .

    January 5, 2023
  • Everyone has rite to work in this country ..everyone come with their own destiney .This country is made off diffrent immigrant .

    January 5, 2023
  • People opposing H1b’s and legal immigration have zero right to even comment as their fore fathers or parents landed here illegally. These guys calling themselves Americans are cry babies that cannot think of competition. Living off by the major economy made of innovation & support by Tech workers. At the same time these are people that enjoy free checks & social benifits that come off heavy taxes levied on Temp workers that contribute to large economy. The Chinese name above calling
    legal H1 b sponsorship as human trafficking doesn’t realize the Chinese are highest ethnicity that are human trafficked and you find them in every street working in Chinese Massage parlors in name of Spa. Dirty Chinese that spread Covid to the world taking so many lives should be barred to leave China as they spread diseases eating what not like bats & rats..

    January 5, 2023
  • If Only America, be like Dubai. Let people come to work with working visa approved either inside or outside no hardship. But this visa is co-terminos of their employment. Do not allow any non working people who are after the goverment benefits. Citizenship can be granted only after working full time for 10 years with proven record that benefited the country economy.

    January 5, 2023
    • I am agree with American. The work visa should be temporary once job is done and timeline finished you should go back.

      People who try to settle in US based on temporary visa are really pathetic. They really don’t have any love for there own country they just wanted to escape from their own country problems.

      If you really think layoffs scared you then no one told you to stay here and live a life and start family. American doesn’t come in your country and do that. It’s obvious if someone has did the same in your country you would be furious to.

      Just shut the f*k up. It’s really great of America that it’s offering great opportunities for you guys which your country can never give.

      If you really think because of you workers America is economy is growing then why not go back and contribute to your country and will see how long that can last.

      January 6, 2023
      • May be you born in America, what about your ancestors? From which country they came from? How they came here, illegally?
        Ask your parents or grandparents how much they love their own country and why they have not gone back to home country?
        First check your back before commenting on legally hard working people.

        January 6, 2023
  • USA it’s a god land . welcome everybody…..
    People earned what they work for it.
    No one give you nothing for free

    January 5, 2023
  • I am Bangladeshi I want a job opportunity in America please give me a visa

    January 6, 2023
  • I didn’t see any racial comments. Seems you may may have I suggest getting over it. You popped of calling someone lazy enjoying Free benefits. What free benefits do everyday hardworking natural born citizens receive other than paying taxes. That being said. Nothing wrong with companies paying higher prices. They should be even higher. How about put a halt on all immigration until we can sort out and fix this horrible system. And it’s time to stop chain migration. But, as Kermit would say. “That’s none of my business.”

    January 6, 2023
  • It is time for indians to stop abusing H1B system . These visa are temporary in nature the fees should be at least 20k that way it inspires American workers and Made in America

    January 6, 2023
  • US welcome thousands illegal migrants who don’t have any job and just going to be living on public expenses for long time, but rejects intellectual, hard working, tax paying legal immigrants who can help US economy. They are on the path of self destruction.

    January 6, 2023
    • Spoken like a truly ignorant person who does not have any clue to how the US immigration system works. The US does not reject H1b candidates, every year the quota for such Visas increase due to need. If you can afford the visa, good for you, if you can’t, don’t bother to apply and take the Visa from someone who can afford it.

      January 6, 2023
  • H1b visas are employment based, so most times the potential employer will foot the bill for the filing fees, as big tech firms have more than enough money to pay the increased fees. That is if the employer has deemed the potential employee is worth the cost. If not, then the person seeking the visa should make a determination if the price is worth the benefits, and if not, seek employment outside the US. I am an immigration attorney who works with refugees and asylum seekers who escaped from governments trying to kill them and their families, who come to the US with nothing but a suitcase of clothes and some photos. Their fees have remained the same, and deservedly so. Let the company who wants the highly educated worker or the worker themselves pay the increased fees, they can afford it, no matter what country they originate from.

    January 6, 2023
  • If the US had no employment opportunity after being a student , I would have never come for my PhD here. People got to realize that without the H1B program, there is no direct path to legal immigration. The reality is that people who spend here 6-12 years have their livelihood set up in the US with a house, a family, etc. If you cut that option, people will not come. And already, people are moving to other nations as we speak. The reality is that without the H1B program, US tech industry will receive a significant setback and will drastically shrink within a decades time and you will have competing industries like silicon valleys in India and China.

    Once you lose the edge, you will forever trail. Talent never sleeps. I have seen industries rapidly coming up in Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Shenzhen. Talent will migrate there and once that happens there will not be a reversing trend.

    August 29, 2023

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