TCS Among Worst Hit as Trump Imposes $100,000 Fee on H-1B Visa Workers
In a major setback to India’s IT industry, US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa workers, coupled with stricter wage norms. The move, aimed at prioritising American hires, is expected to hit Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) particularly hard, coming just months after the company announced 12,000 job cuts — about 2% of its global workforce.
According to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data, TCS was the second-largest beneficiary of H-1B visas in 2025 with over 5,000 approvals as of June, while Amazon topped the list with more than 10,000 workers. Other major beneficiaries include Microsoft (5,189), Meta (5,123), Apple (4,202), and Google (4,181). India, which accounts for 71% of all approved H-1B beneficiaries, is expected to be the hardest hit, followed by China with 11.7%.
The crackdown, which takes effect September 21, will bar H-1B workers from entering the US unless the new fee is paid. Analysts warn that the decision could further deepen the crisis for the IT services sector, already reeling from weak global demand and large-scale layoffs. While Washington hopes the measure will create more opportunities for local workers, industry experts caution it could disrupt global outsourcing models and push costs higher for US companies.
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