$100k fee not for existing H-1B visas: White House

The White House issued sweeping clarifications on Sunday about President Donald Trump's H-1B visa overhaul, contradicting earlier official statements and resolving a weekend of panic that triggered emergency advisories for employees to return to the US and soaring flight prices.

- Shashank Mattoo

The $100,000 H-1B visa fee will not be an annual charge and applies only to new applications in upcoming lottery cycles, Washington clarified.

Immigration agencies also confirmed that existing H-1B holders remain free to travel internationally without paying the new fee to reenter the United States—directly contradicting the strict interpretation from the proclamation of Trump's executive order that sparked weekend chaos.

The clarifications came after companies including Microsoft and Amazon issued advisories telling H-1B employees to return immediately before Trump's order took effect on September 21 or defer plans to leave the country.

Airlines and travel agents in India reported unprecedented demand for last-minute US-bound flights with prices surging by 200%, and videos emerged on social media of people abandoning at least one international flight due to depart an American airport.