New H-1B visa rules set to be released on July 8:

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proposing a rule that would require employers to pay additional fees when extending work visas for foreign employees starting July 8. The proposal includes a USD 4,000 (approximately Rs 3,33,000) fee for extending an H-1B visa and a USD 4,500 (approximately Rs 3,75,000) fee for extending an L-1 visa.
This extension of the 9/11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee, which currently applies only to initial visa petitions and changes of employers, aims to fund national security programs.
The H-1B visa, favored by Indian professionals, will be impacted by this change. H-1B visas are the main pathway for Indian IT companies to send their software engineers to the United States, with Indians consistently being the largest group of H-1B recipients.

In 2022, Indians secured 77 percent of the 3,20,000 approved H-1B visas. This year, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) anticipates around 3,50,000 applicants, a decrease attributed to new measures against fraud.

Last year, over 4,00,000 out of 7,59,000 registrations were duplicated.