Washington DC, Sept. 20 -- The Trump administration has announced a massive increase in H-1B visa fees, imposing a USD 100,000 annual charge that will fundamentally alter how American companies hire skilled foreign workers, particularly impacting Indian IT professionals who comprise the largest group of beneficiaries.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick revealed the changes during a Friday press call, describing the fee hike as a deliberate strategy to eliminate what the administration considers lower-skilled training positions while preserving opportunities for highly skilled workers.

The new $100,000 annual fee represents a dramatic increase from current H-1B processing costs, which typically amount to a few thousand dollars. Companies ...