The Trump administration’s announcement of a $100,000 (Rs 8.79 lakh) fee on H-1B visas in September caused immediate alarm for workers and employers alike. Many H-1B holders visiting families abroad, including a significant number from India, were thrown into panic. Major tech companies such as Microsoft sent urgent messages urging employees to return to the United States immediately, while stories surfaced of professionals abruptly leaving everything behind to rush home.

Soon after, the White House clarified that the fee would only affect new hires and not existing H-1B holders, offering some relief. On October 20, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released further guidance detailing exactly who is exempt and who must pay the fee.

The USCIS explained that th

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