US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a $100,000 fee on every new H-1B visa application, effective September 21, has sent shockwaves through the foreign professionals’ community, especially. The H-1B visa, which allows US employers to hire foreign workers in specialised fields, has long been the preferred route for Indian engineers, IT professionals and researchers. Cost: $1,055 filing fee; optional $2,805 premium processing; $5,500–$8,000 legal fees; plus a new $250 integrity fee. $1,055 filing fee; optional $2,805 premium processing; $5,500–$8,000 legal fees; plus a new $250 integrity fee. The steep new H-1B fee has left aspiring Indian professionals weighing their options between prohibitively costly visas or taking the student route.