The US government plans to expand the $4,000 H-1B and $4,500 L-1 9-11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee to petitions seeking extensions of stay for companies with large nonimmigrant workforces.
The US administration plans to expand existing H-1B and L-1 visa fees to extension petitions, raising retention costs for tech companies and heavily impacting Indian professionals who form the majority of renewals.
Immigration lawyer Poonam Gupta warns that timely visa extension filings may not prevent ICE arrests at US airports, citing the case of Chantal Morales Rojas, an au pair arrested despite a pending extension. This highlights a discrepancy between legal authorized stay and ICE actions.
India has updated visa rules, requiring foreigners on 180-day visas to register before expiry for extensions. Emergent circumstances are now needed for stays over 180 days. Birth intimation rules are waived if a parent is Indian.
