I spent $8,000 to get back to US after fears over Trump visa deadline
SEPT 21 - Rohan Mehta - not his real name - spent over $8,000 (£5,900) on flights in his scramble to get back to the US ahead of a deadline that would Kenya breaking news | Kenya news today |..
✨ Key Highlights
Many H-1B visa holders scrambled to return to the US due to confusion surrounding a new $100,000 fee for the skilled foreign worker visa program, initially fearing it would apply to current visa holders returning from abroad.
- Rohan Mehta, a software professional, spent over $8,000 (£5,900) on flights to return to the US from India, cutting short his trip due to the perceived deadline.
- The new $100,000 (£74,000) fee, signed by President Donald Trump, was later clarified by the White House to apply only to new visa applications and not to current visa holders or renewals.
- India-based workers receive over 70% of the 85,000 H-1B visas issued annually, and companies like Amazon, Tata, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Google are major beneficiaries of the program.
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Part of the Day's Coverage
White House Clarifies New $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee Applies Only to New Applicants - September 2025
An announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump about a $100,000 hike in H-1B visa fees caused widespread confusion and panic among foreign workers. Many H-1B visa holders scrambled to return to the US, fearing the fee would apply to current visa holders returning from abroad, with one person reporting spending $8,000 to get back. The White House subsequently clarified that the new fee, effective Sunday, applies only to new applicants. The clarification specified that renewals or current visa holders would not be subject to the fee. According to the White House, this measure aims to encourage companies to hire American workers.
