Twenty US states, led by California, have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration challenging its decision to impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications, calling the move unlawful and economically damaging.

The legal battle has significant implications not only for US employers and public services but also for India, the largest source country for H-1B workers.

The H-1B visa programme allows US employers to hire highly skilled foreign professionals in sectors such as technology, healthcare, education, and scientific research. Indians account for a majority of H-1B recipients, particularly in information technology and engineering roles.

The contested fee was announced in September as part of the administration’s broader push to curb what it describes as over-reliance

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