These companies rely heavily on deploying skilled professionals to the United States.

The White House confirmed the new fee on Friday, presenting it as part of a broader plan to reform America’s temporary employment visa system. This move is being seen as the most high-profile step yet in Washington’s attempt to overhaul how foreign talent enters the country.

The announcement has already created panic. Several major U.S. tech firms have advised their H-1B visa holders to either stay inside the country or quickly return, fearing possible risks if they delay.

For Indian IT firms, this change could mean higher costs, reduced competitiveness, and pressure to shift operations. Nasscom has cautioned that such a steep fee will not only hit businesses but could also slow down U.S. companies that rely on Indian expertise.

Nasscom, representing India’s $283 billion IT and business process outsourcing industry, said the abrupt rollout of the policy would impact Indian nationals and disrupt continuity of ongoing onshore projects for the country’s technology services firms, as reported by Reuters.

The industry body said the one-day deadline for the new policy created "considerable uncertainty for businesses, professionals, and students across the world."

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It also said the new policy could have "ripple effects" on the U.S. innovation ecosystem and on global job markets, pointing out that for companies, "additional cost will require adjustments".

Microsoft, JPMorgan and Amazon responded to the announcement by advising employees holding H-1B visas to remain in the United States, according to internal emails reviewed by Reuters.

Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has launched a broad crackdown on immigration, including efforts to limit certain forms of legal immigration.