New H-1B Visa Cost Could Block Young Indian Women From Jobs

The U.S. government’s decision to introduce a one-time $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa applications is expected to disproportionately affect young Indian women, analysts say. The new charge represents a substantial increase from the previous fee of a few thousand dollars and will apply only to first-time petitioners.

H-1B visa holders remain largely male-dominated. Data from fiscal year 2024 show that 74% of workers approved for continued employment were men, leaving women with only 26%. However, among new H-1B approvals, women accounted for 37% of beneficiaries, reflecting their rising presence in the program. Because the fee targets fresh applications, women may face greater hurdles in securing sponsorship.

Salary trends further complicate the impact of the fee. For initial employment H-1B holders in FY24, the bottom 25% earned roughly $77,000 annually, the median salary was $97,000, and the top 25% earned about $130,000. For continuing workers, salaries were higher: the bottom quartile earned $102,000, the median was $132,000, and the top quartile exceeded $169,000. The high upfront cost could make hiring new workers economically challenging for employers, particularly when experienced employees cost less to maintain.

Women applicants are more vulnerable because they generally earn less than men at every salary level. Among initial employment H-1B beneficiaries in FY24, women in the bottom quartile earned $71,000 compared with $80,000 for men. Median earnings were $91,000 for women and $99,000 for men, while the top quartile earned $125,000 and $131,000, respectively. Lower salaries among women increase the financial barrier for employers to sponsor new female employees under the $100,000 fee regime.

The gender disparity is particularly noticeable among Indian H-1B holders. Indians accounted for 60% of female and 75% of male beneficiaries in FY24, compared with Chinese workers, whose male-female distribution was nearly equal. This makes the new fee especially burdensome for Indian women entering the H-1B program.

Age is another factor amplifying the impact. Among women approved for new H-1B employment in FY24, 75% were under 35 years old, compared with 65% of men, meaning younger women beginning their careers will bear the brunt of the cost. Educational attainment adds complexity: 44% of newly approved women held a Master’s degree, slightly higher than the 39% of men with similar qualifications, while the proportion of women with only a Bachelor’s degree was lower. At the doctoral and professional levels, gender differences were minimal.

Experts warn that the combination of higher fees, lower female salaries, and younger age profiles may discourage companies from sponsoring women for new H-1B positions. This could slow the progress women have made in joining the U.S. tech workforce, particularly among Indian nationals who dominate the applicant pool.

The implementation of the $100,000 fee marks a major shift in U.S. H-1B policy. While current visa holders are unaffected, first-time petitioners, especially young Indian women, may face significant challenges in securing employment sponsorship.