How Trump’s H-1B Fee Hike is Shattering Indian Workers’ Dreams: A Deep Dive into the Impact

Meghna Gupta had a solid plan: earn a master’s degree by 23, work in India, then move to the U.S. by 30. She dedicated long hours at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s largest IT firm, hoping to land a promotion that would take her to California.

Now, at 29, Gupta finds her dreams shattered. Changes to the H-1B visa program under the Trump administration have made it nearly impossible for many skilled workers like her to move to the U.S. Previously accessible, H-1B visas now come with fees skyrocketing from around $2,000 to $100,000, a steep price for companies sponsoring these workers. With base salaries starting at $60,000, the total cost for employers now exceeds $160,000, pushing them to hire locally instead.

This shift is a harsh blow for many Indians still dreaming of the American opportunity. Historically, Indian companies drove most H-1B sponsorships, but recent trends show a clear decline. In 2014, seven of the top ten H-1B sponsors were Indian firms; by 2024, that number dropped to four. It’s a worrying trajectory for anyone looking to pursue their ambitions in the U.S.

During the first half of 2025, Gupta’s TCS was the only Indian company in the top ten H-1B recipients, overshadowed by giants like Amazon and Microsoft. By 2024, over 70% of H-1B visas went to Indians, with Chinese nationals trailing far behind at 12%. Now, many fear dwindling pathways to the U.S. job market.

“It’s heartbreaking,” Gupta shared. “I built my whole life around moving to the U.S. Now, the American Dream feels like a cruel joke.”

Gupta’s story symbolizes a bigger issue in India today. Despite being the fastest-growing major economy, job creation hasn’t kept pace with the influx of young workers. Major cities struggle with infrastructure and rising inequality. Millions aspire to move abroad, especially in sectors like engineering and healthcare. Between 2020 and 2024, the number of Indians migrating for work soared from 94,145 to 348,629, a 270% increase.

According to GTRI’s Ajay Srivastava, this new visa policy primarily harms mid-level IT roles and project managers — jobs mostly filled by Indians. “The cost of hiring a foreign worker now outweighs local hiring. U.S. firms will focus more on domestic talent and shift routine work outside the U.S.,” he explained. The reaction in Indian markets has been swift, with stock prices dropping as investors brace for reduced U.S. hiring.

Younger professionals are deeply concerned. Most international students who study in the U.S. aim to stay afterward. A survey showed that 41% of foreign graduates worked in the U.S. two years after finishing their degrees. For Ph.D. holders, that figure jumps to 75%. Sudhanshu Kaushik from the North American Association of Indian Students noted an uptick in inquiries from worried students. “They see the risks they face with heavy tuition and unclear job prospects,” he said.

For Ansh, a senior engineer at Meta, the news has been unsettling. Having secured a job after graduating from a prestigious Indian institute, he now questions the stability of his future. “I’ve never wanted to return to India, but uncertainty pushes people to reconsider,” he mentioned. He acknowledges that the U.S. benefits greatly from immigrant talent, asserting, “Talent drives innovation; losing it will have long-term consequences.”

In response to the shifting landscape, Prime Minister Modi’s secretary encouraged Indians abroad to return home. However, experts suggest that even as job opportunities increase in India’s tech sector, gaps remain. Positions may be clustered around newly emerging fields like AI and cloud computing, leaving other skilled workers in a bind. Many Indian professionals are now eyeing opportunities in countries like Canada or Australia instead.

As politics and economics entwine, Gupta and many others face an uncertain future. Dreams once pinned on the American landscape are dimming as new policies reshape their paths. The hopes of skilled workers like Gupta may shift from the U.S. to emerging opportunities at home — but will India’s ecosystem provide what they seek?

Learn more about the changing dynamics of Indian professionals in the U.S. with resources from [Nasscom](https://www.nasscom.in) and [Economic Times](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com).

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Economy, Features, Business and Economy, Donald Trump, Migration, Technology, Asia, India, United States, US & Canada