US Chamber of Commerce May Sue Trump Over H-1B Visa Fee

America’s biggest business lobby, the US Chamber of Commerce, is considering legal action against the Trump administration after it announced a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications. The move has alarmed technology companies and other large employers that depend heavily on skilled foreign workers, especially from India; Economic Times reported.

The Chamber has been holding calls and meetings with its member companies to test support for a lawsuit. Many firms, particularly in the tech sector, fear the fee will damage their ability to hire the talent they need. The Chamber has successfully challenged Trump’s immigration rules before, but this case will depend on whether companies join in and show that the new policy causes them financial or operational harm.

A Chamber spokesperson said members are deeply concerned and that the group is raising these concerns with the government directly.

Why Indian Professionals are Most Affected
The H-1B visa programme is dominated by Indian professionals, who play key roles in technology, healthcare, and research in the US. Companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta are among the largest users of H-1B visas, with Amazon alone hiring over 10,000 workers through the scheme in the past decade.

Critics of the new fee argue that it will undermine America’s competitiveness, since Indian workers are among the most educated and highest-earning immigrant groups. At the same time, Indian-origin leaders continue to rise in corporate America — with recent appointments including Srinivas Gopalan as CEO of T-Mobile and Rahul Goyal as CEO of Molson Coors.

Industry and Expert Concerns
Business groups such as Compete America, which includes Amazon, Apple, Accenture, IBM, Meta, and Microsoft, have urged the government to reconsider. They warn the fee could hurt America’s global leadership in technology and innovation.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang stressed the importance of attracting the “brightest minds” to the US, while Indian-American lawyer Harmeet Dhillon pointed out that immigrant doctors have long supported rural communities in the US healthcare system.

Bigger Picture: Economy vs Politics
Indian professionals are now central to America’s innovation economy — from Silicon Valley coders to small-town doctors. With an ageing population and falling birth rates, economists say immigration is essential to keep the US economy growing. A Congressional Budget Office report recently warned that without immigration, the US could face population decline by 2033.

Despite these warnings, immigration remains a highly political issue. Trump’s “America First” message appeals to voters worried about jobs, even though experts argue such restrictions could weaken the country’s long-term economic strength.

For now, the Chamber of Commerce is weighing whether it has enough support to file a case. The debate highlights a major contradiction: the US needs Indian talent to fuel its future, but its policies risk pushing that very talent away.