Embassy on alert: India issues emergency number after Trump's H-1B fee order; tech industry braces for fallout

The Indian Embassy in US on Saturday (local time) issued an emergency assistance number for Indian nationals seeking urgent support after US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation imposing an unprecedented annual fee of $100,000 on H-1B visa applications.“Indian nationals seeking emergency assistance may call cell number +1-202-550-9931 (and WhatsApp). This number should be used only by Indian nationals seeking immediate emergency assistance and not for routine consular queries,” the Embassy said in a post on X.

Clarification from US administration

A senior US administration official clarified that the steep fee would apply only to new H-1B visa petitions, not to existing visa holders or renewals.“Those who are visiting or leaving the country, or visiting India, don’t need to rush back before Sunday or pay the $100,000 fee. $100,000 is only for new and not current existing holders,” the official told ANI.

India’s response

With 71–72% of all H-1B visas issued to Indians, the move has triggered alarm in India’s tech industry and among thousands of professionals in the US. The government said it is studying the “full implications” of the measure and has asked its missions to extend all possible assistance to Indian nationals caught in immediate travel situations.

In a statement, ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stressed that the restrictions could disrupt families and impact innovation ties between the two countries.“This measure is likely to have humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families. Government hopes that these disruptions can be addressed suitably by the US authorities,” he said.

Industry fallout

The government also underlined that industry in both India and the US has a vested interest in ensuring talent mobility.

“Skilled talent mobility and exchanges have contributed enormously to technology development, innovation, economic growth, competitiveness and wealth creation in the United States and India. Policymakers will therefore assess recent steps taking into account mutual benefits, which include strong people-to-people ties between the two countries,” Jaiswal added.Indian IT firms, which are among the largest beneficiaries of the H-1B program, are expected to engage with US counterparts and lobby groups to explore ways to mitigate the impact of the new fee structure.