Last year, over 80,000 Indians submitted fresh petitions for the H-1B visa, which is the pathway for non-citizens to secure employment in speciality occupations in the United States.

With US President Donald Trump now mandating a hefty fee of $100,000 on all first-time H1-B applications after September 21, around a lakh skilled Indian workers could be impacted. Those in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields are most likely to be affected.

The current annual statutory cap for H-1B is 65,000 visas, with 20,000 additional visas for foreign professionals who graduate with a master’s degree or doctorate from a US institution of higher learning.

However, ever since the announcement, various countries have come forward to welcome the talent pool from India, hinti

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