New Delhi, Sept. 20 -- The United States has announced a massive change to its work visa system. Starting September 21, 2025, employers must pay $100,000 every year for each H-1B visa holder. It is the highest-skilled worker visa fee in the world and a sharp break from past US practice.

For decades, H-1B costs were significant but not crushing. Employers typically paid between $1,700 and $4,500 per petition, with a registration fee of just $215 as of earlier this year. Those figures are now dwarfed by the new flat annual fee, which applies to both new H-1Bs and renewals.

According to the BBC, officials say the change is aimed at discouraging companies from bringing in lower-paid workers and ensuring that visas go to "high earners." Comm...