Key provisions of Project Firewall start on September 21, 2025, with more rules rolling out through executive orders.

Trump’s Project Firewall: H-1B Visas Get Costlier, Indian Work Permits at Risk

Q: What is Project Firewall?

Project Firewall is a Trump administration program that tightens oversight on H-1B visas. It includes stricter investigations and a $100,000 fee per worker to prioritise American jobs.

Q: Who will it affect the most?

Indian IT firms and professionals will be most affected, since Indians are the largest group of H-1B visa holders.

Q: Are there any exceptions?

Yes, rare 'national interest' cases or petitions not seen as harming U.S. workers may be exempt from the new fee.

Q: What happens if an employer violates rules?

Employers may face fines, orders to pay back wages, and even bans on sponsoring future H-1B visas.

Rajiv Shukla
Sep 20, 2025
5 min read

Updated: Sep 22, 2025

An Indian IT worker holding a passport and laptop, with a stylised digital firewall blocking the view to a distant U.S. skyline — symbolising new H-1B visa barriers. — Project Firewall: higher costs, stricter checks — and what it means for Indian H-1B workers.

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Quick Highlights — Why Project Firewall H-1B Visas Matters

H-1B visa fee hiked to $100,000 per worker.

Project Firewall gives U.S. Dept. of Labor more power to investigate employers.

Goal: prioritise American workers, prevent wage suppression.

Penalties include fines, back wages, even visa bans for violators.

Indian IT firms and professionals face the biggest impact.

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Project Firewall H-1B Visas- Quick Read — What’s Inside

Why Trump raised H-1B visa costs and launched Project Firewall.

How this hits Indian workers and IT companies.

Top 5 everyday impacts for Indian professionals.

Government penalties and investigations explained.

FAQs on costs, exceptions, and work permit effects.

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What’s New with Project Firewall H-1B Visas

The Trump administration has launched Project Firewall, a strict visa enforcement program that increases oversight on H-1B visas. The headline change: a $100,000 fee per H-1B worker.

The Department of Labor will now personally certify investigations, checking if employers are misusing visas to underpay or sideline American workers. Penalties range from fines to outright bans on future visa sponsorships.

For Indian workers — who make up the majority of H-1B holders — this means higher costs, tighter scrutiny, and possible delays in getting or renewing work permits.

How Project Firewall H-1B Visas Works

Step 1: Employer applies → must pay $100,000 per H-1B petition.
Step 2: U.S. worker check → firms must show they tried hiring Americans first.
Step 3: Investigation window → DoL can launch probes if rules are broken.
Step 4: Penalties → fines, back wages, or visa ban for violators.
Step 5: Exceptions → rare cases of “national interest” may be spared the fee.

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Everyday Impact of Project Firewall H-1B Visas: Top 5 Things Indians Will Face

Higher job cost → U.S. companies may cut back on hiring Indians due to fees.
Slower approvals → extra checks mean more delays for visa stamping/renewals.
Greater uncertainty → employees may be asked not to travel abroad during processing.
Work permit ripple → H-4 dependents, OPT students linked to H-1B face spillover impact.
Career choices → many may shift to Canada, UK or remote jobs to avoid risk.

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Why Project Firewall H-1B Visas Hits India Hard

Indian IT firms like Infosys, Wipro, TCS rely heavily on H-1B workers in the U.S. The $100k fee per head could drain profits.
Students and new grads who hoped for H-1Bs after studies may find fewer sponsors.
Families on H-4 permits face insecurity as their status depends on H-1B holders.
Indian tech talent may look elsewhere — Canada, UK, Singapore are already positioning themselves as friendlier.

In industries like tech and services that depend heavily on H-1B visas, Project Firewall threatens to upend how staffing works. Many companies build big parts of their teams on these work permits, especially for roles needing specialised skills. With the new fee and tighter oversight, there’s a risk that businesses may delay hiring, reduce reliance on foreign workers, or shift more roles to Americans — even if that means higher costs or less flexibility.

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Slower Processing & More Red Tape due to Project Firewall H-1B Visas

Another thing to watch: speed and certainty may take a hit. Employers will have to go through stricter checks, documentation, and compliance audits. Already, visa processing times are likely to increase. For Indians applying now — either new H-1Bs, renewals, or extensions — that means more waiting, possibly higher legal or administrative fees, and the chance of unexpected delays. What used to be “routine” may now involve more red tape and uncertainty.

Project Firewall H-1B Visas Verdict

For employers: Project Firewall raises the cost of foreign talent sharply. Expect fewer approvals and more compliance pressure.
For Indian professionals: Uncertainty is the new normal. Those already in the U.S. should consult employers and immigration lawyers.
For students: Reconsider U.S. as the only destination — other markets may be safer bets.

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Project Firewall H-1B Visas FAQs

Q. What is Project Firewall?

A. A Trump administration program that increases oversight on H-1B visas, with new rules, investigations, and a $100k fee per worker.

Q. When does it start?

A. Key provisions start September 21, 2025, with more rolling out through executive orders.

Q. Who will it affect the most?

A. Indian IT firms and professionals, as Indians are the largest group of H-1B holders.

Q. Are there any exceptions?

A. Yes, rare “national interest” cases or petitions not seen as a threat to U.S. workers.

Q. What happens if an employer violates rules?

A. They may face fines, back wages, and even bans from future H-1B sponsorship.

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Project Firewall H-1B Visas Tags

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About the Author

Rajiv Shukla covers news and current affairs for NFSTUBE with a fact-first, clarity-driven approach. His analysis helps readers stay informed on the stories shaping India and the world.

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