Even As H-1B Visa Fees Soar, Why Indian Students Still Dream Of America | World News

USA Visa Fee: A heated debate is spreading on social media after the US government introduced a controversial change to the H-1B visa system; this movement caused ripples in the global student community, especially in India. The change increased the H-1B application fee to a staggering $100,000 and caused confusion and anxiety among eager students. However, amid the turmoil, many experts and netizens point out that Indian students aiming to attend American universities may actually benefit rather than be harmed by this change.

The new rule focuses on companies that abuse the visa process to import talent from outside the United States. Between September 2025 and September 2026, the new rule will primarily affect employers, not those currently in the country on an F-1 student visa.

For Indian students, this doesn’t mean much to worry about. Those already in the United States or planning to earn a master’s or bachelor’s degree, especially in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM), will not be affected.

Master’s graduates can work for up to three years under Optional Practical Training (OPT) after completing their diploma. That gives them until around 2029 before they need to apply for an H-1B visa, long after the current rule expires. Undergraduates have an even longer timeline, extending into the 2030s.

Interestingly, some believe that this policy may actually benefit students studying in the United States. Because employers will have to pay a high fee to hire talent from outside the country, they may prefer to hire international students who are currently living and working under an F-1 visa. This could create more job opportunities for Indian graduates who are already in the system.

The demand for skilled workers in America is still huge. A report from Georgetown University estimates that by 2032, the United States will need 5.25 million more educated professionals. Most of these positions will require at least a bachelor’s degree, and international students, especially from India, will fill much of this gap.

Indian students already play a large role in the US economy. Last year they sent home $135 billion in remittances; This figure is expected to double within three years. For America, international students contribute more than $42 billion annually to its economy through tuition, living expenses and innovation. Without them, universities would face major shortcomings.

However, not everyone sees optimism in this situation. Some users online warned against what they called “false hope”. One post read: “Employers don’t like uncertainty. Under the current administration, hiring international students or H-1B workers = uncertainty. No clarity on whether the $100k fee will apply to 2026 petitions. Stop putting students’ brains in this endless spiral of stress. There are other countries that will build a better life.”

Another user struck a calmer tone, saying: “Given all the assumptions made in the article, it’s refreshing to look at the picture from a different perspective. Appreciate it!”

For now, the rule’s biggest impact falls on employers, not students. In that space between anxiety and opportunity, thousands of Indian students continue to pack their dreams into suitcases bound for America, chasing the same promise built by generations before them.