Washington, Oct. 22 -- The US government exempted foreign students from its controversial $100,000 H-1B visa fee on Monday, bringing relief to thousands of graduates - including from India who make up among the largest cohorts in American colleges - who feared employers would abandon sponsorship plans due to the prohibitive cost. US Citizenship and Immigration Services clarified on its website that the new fee applies only to H-1B petitions involving individuals outside the US, meaning foreign students already in America can transition from F-1 student visas to H-1B work visas without triggering the charge. The clarification marks a significant policy reversal that preserves a crucial pathway for international graduates. "F-1 students can f...