A leading expatriate organization (Indiaspora) on Saturday said that the H1B program is the gateway to the US to attract the world’s top talent and skilled professionals, who not only fill existing positions, but build an entirely new economic ecosystem. US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Friday, under which the H1B visa fee will be increased to 1,00,000 US dollars annually. Indiaspora said that Trump has made a mistake by taking this step because it has created nervousness, anxiety and fear among Indian professionals who came on ‘work visas’ who are the boosters of the US economy. Hours later, the White House clarified that the new H1B visa requirement applies only to new, prospective applications that have not yet been filed, and does not apply to existing visa holders.
Non-profit organization Indiaspora posted on X, “H1B holders have historically been the architects of innovation. They have founded companies that create hundreds of thousands of American jobs and contribute billions in tax revenue to federal, state and local governments.” The organization, which focuses on global Indian migrants, said the H-1B program serves as a gateway to America to attract the world’s top talent — skilled professionals who not only fill existing positions but build entirely new economic ecosystems.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said in a statement on Saturday that Trump’s new H1B visa requirement applies only to new, prospective petitions that have not yet been filed. H-1B petitions submitted before the effective date of September 21, 2025 will not be affected, and visa holders currently outside the United States will not be required to pay re-entry fees. Indiaspora said, “These H1B professionals promote technological progress, foster entrepreneurship and strengthen the tax base that supports everything from infrastructure to education.”
It said many startups rely on the H-1B employment authorization to recruit specialist talent at competitive costs, allowing them to effectively expand and compete with larger companies. It said, “H-1B card holders also play an important role in scientific research and development, which acts as the primary engine of American innovation and, consequently, long-term economic growth.” According to the ‘Indiaspora Impact Report’ published in 2024 in collaboration with the Boston Consulting Group, India is the leading country of origin for migrant-implanted unicorns in the US over the past five years. According to this, out of these 358 unicorns, 72 founders or co-founders are Indian diaspora, whose valuation is more than 195 billion US dollars and they employ more than 55,000 people.