India, Sept. 20 -- Indian professionals and immigration lawyers have been left confused by the scope of the Trump administration's new order hiking H-1B visa application fees. Many are pointing to discrepancies between statements made by commerce secretary Howard Lutnick on Friday and the text of Trump's executive order released on the same day.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Lutnick said that companies would have to pay the US government a sum of $100,000 per H-1B employee per year. However, the text of the executive order released by the White House does not specify an annual payment.

"There is indeed a discrepancy between what Mr. Lutnick said at the press conference and the signed Proclamation. There may be changes or mor...