In a major relief for thousands of Indian professionals and students in the US, the Trump administration has clarified that international graduates and skilled workers already in the country will be exempted from paying the steep $100,000 H-1B visa fee announced last month.

The clarification, issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) under the Department of Homeland Security, followed confusion and concern among foreign workers and employers over the scope of President Donald Trump’s “Proclamation on Restriction on Entry of Certain Non-immigrant Workers”, signed on September 19.

Under the proclamation, all new H-1B petitions filed on or after September 21, 2025, are required to include an additional $100,000 payment as a condition of eligibility. However, the rule app

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