Navigating Trump’s H-1B visa order: Expert advice for students and professionals

For Indian students already studying in the U.S., the new visa policy is actually less worrying than it sounds.

The recent H-1B visa order by US President Trump has unsettled students and IT professionals alike, introducing a $100,000 fee for new petitions from next year.

Experts weighed in on the policy implications and offered guidance on navigating the new landscape, along with alternative visa routes. Here's what you need to know about the impact on Indian talent.

Changes in the H-1B Policy

The announcement on H-1B visa policy mandates a $100,000 fee for new petitions, especially for beneficiaries applying from outside the US. This fee does not apply to existing H-1B holders or renewals, focusing instead on new entries.

“While the rule aims to curb misuse, Indian professionals and students who rely heavily on this visa route will feel its direct effect," said Gaurav Batra, Founder & CEO, Infinite Group, a study abroad platform. According to experts, this uncertainty stems from potential legal challenges to the proclamation, but the immediate reality is a higher financial threshold for employers sponsoring new talent.

Impact on Indian Students and Professionals

For Indian students already studying in the US, the change in immigration rule is actually less worrying than it sounds.

“If students move directly from an F-1 student visa to an H-1B while staying in the country, they likely won’t face the $100,000 fee,” said Rohan Ganeriwala, Co-founder and director, Collegify, a global education consultancy firm.

It means, those on F-1 visas transitioning to Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM OPT may sidestep the fee if their employer files a change of status from within the US.

Gaurav Batra said, "Graduates on F-1 visas transitioning to OPT or STEM OPT may still secure H-1B visas if their employers file a change of status from within the U.S., which appears to avoid the $100,000 requirement." However, leaving the country post-graduation and re-entering via H-1B could trigger the payment, pushing students to prioritize continuous US employment.

According Eela Dubey, Co-Founder of EduFund, a financial planning and consulting firm, new applicants from India face steeper barriers as smaller firms may hesitate to sponsor because of the higher visa cost.

Existing H-1B professionals are largely unaffected for extensions but should avoid international travel to prevent complications.

Advice to Aspiring Students

In this volatile environment, experts urge aspiring students to act with foresight.

"The focus should be on maximizing opportunities while studying—internships, campus placements, and OPT roles—to ensure they remain in the U.S. during the transition to H-1B,” Gaurav Batra recommended.

Building a strong network with employers who have experience sponsoring international talent is essential. Education counselors advise creating a parallel Plan B by exploring opportunities in other countries such as Canada, United Kingdom or Australia.

Ritika Gupta, CEO & Counsellor, AAera Consultants said, “Students must not consider H-1B visa as the only option. Explore cap-exempt jobs at universities or research labs.”

Ankit Mehra, Co-founder & CEO, GyanDhan, a firm offering education loan said, “If working in the US is central to your study abroad plans, consider deferring if you planning to pursue studies in Spring 2026. The policy environment is volatile, and clarity may emerge only after legal pushbacks.”

For future intakes, keep investing in skills as the future of work is transforming, and opportunities will come to those best prepared.

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Strategies to Navigate the Policy

For students already in the US, the key is to transition directly from an F-1 visa to an H-1B visa without leaving the country, so they avoid the new fee.

“These students should focus on gaining internships, networking, and developing in-demand skills, which make employers more willing to sponsor them,” said Rohan Ganeriwala of Collegify. To minimize the policy's impact, a multi-pronged approach holds the key.

Infinite Group’s Gaurav Batra recommended a multi-pronged approach to navigate the new H-1B visa proclamation, which includes - prioritize employers filing H-1B petitions within the US to potentially bypass the $100,000 fee, target cap-exempt organizations like universities or research institutions, explore alternative visa routes like L L-1 for intra-company transfers or O-1 for specialized skills and continuously upskill in high-demand areas like AI, data science, and cybersecurity to become indispensable.

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Exceptions and Alternatives 

The H-1B visa proclamation fact sheet issued by the White House does mention possible exceptions, especially for roles considered in the US “national interest,” such as healthcare workers, cybersecurity experts, or researchers in critical fields like AI.

“The exact criteria and process for accessing these waivers haven’t been clearly defined yet, but typically they would involve employers applying through immigration authorities with strong justification of the candidate’s contribution,” said Rohan Ganeriwala of Collegify.

According to Ritika Gupta of AAera Consultants, universities, nonprofit research organizations, and government laboratories are cap-exempt institutions that remain unaffected by the $100,000 H-1B fee requirement, offering a safer path for individuals.

To pursue these options, one needs to search for jobs that provide documentation of your employer's cap-exempt status in the petitions.

EduFund’s Ela Dubey suggested that families with financial resources can consider the EB-5 visa route, a direct green card investment option that eliminates the need for H-1B sponsorship.

Long-term Planning 

While the new H-1B regulations presents challenges for Indians seeking IT jobs in the US, it is important to remember that America’s immigration law is constantly evolving.

Ritika Gupta said the new policy will shift focus towards strategic, high-return roles, with opportunities likely concentrating in three areas - companies with resources to cover sponsorship costs, cap-exempt institutions like universities, and multinational firms offering internal transfer options.

Students will increasingly prioritize degree programs and fields of study that offer global employment flexibility, rather than solely focusing on US job market opportunities.