Alternate Visas Other Than H1B for Indian Students
Among the ongoing changes in USA on H1B visas, aspiring international students and workers are looking for alternate visas other than H1B. On September 19, 2025, the Donald Trump administration announced USD 100,000 fee for new applicants of the H1B visa. Even though this does not directly impact F1 students in USA currently, in the long run, it will be challenging for them to find a job through H1B. For several years, Indian students have used H1B as a pathway to transition into the job market in USA. This increased fee will result in limited job opportunities for mainly Indian students. This is because in 2024, the majority of H1B approvals were done for Indian workers, who were 71% of the total number. Some alternate visa options available for Indian students are O1, L1, J1, OPT, and STEM extension. However, each visa option has its own set of rules and regulations. Read this article to know more about the alternative visas other than H1B for Indian students.
This Story also Contains
- What is the New H1B Visa Fee?
- Alternate Visa Options to H1B
- Conclusion
What is the New H1B Visa Fee?
Recently, the Trump administration has announced an increase in the H1B visa fee. The new H1B visa fees is USD 100,000. This increase in the fees for new applicants of the H1B is done so that the USA organization prioritizes American workers over international workers. However, this will create a major impact on US organizations, as now sponsoring international workers will be expensive and the companies will get selective in hiring.
Alternate Visa Options to H1B
Indian students can explore the following alternatives to the H1B visa. Even though these alternatives have specific requirements, they are great alternatives among the ongoing reforms on H1B visa fees.
O1 Visa
This visa is also known as the Einstein visa. It is suitable for individuals who have a background in Science, Arts, Business or Education. This visa allows an unlimited extension of one year and also permits you to apply for the US Green Card. Any applicants who have research publications or national awards can apply for the O1 visa. In 2024, Indian applicants were granted 19,457 O1 visas. In addition, in the last decade, the number of O1 visas approved for Indians has increased from 2% to 8%.
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L1 Visa
Another great alternate visa other than H1B visa for Indian students is L1 visa. This visa is used for Intra-company Transfer. This means that applicants who are working in multinational companies in India and wish to transfer to their offices based in USA can apply for an L1 Visa. However, the applicant must ensure that they have completed at least one continuous year of service within that organisation. Infosys, TCS, Accenture, Google, and Amazon use the L1 visa to send their employees to their USA office. The L1 visa is a great pathway to US Green Card and also permits spouses of L1 visa holders to work in the USA.
J1 Visa
This visa is for candidates who are a part of an approved exchange visitor program in USA. Applicants for the J1 visa are generally students, professors, researchers, teachers, trainees, or interns who have received a sponsored program in USA. However, under certain circumstances, J1 visa holders might be required to return to their home country for at least two years after finishing the sponsored program.
OPT and STEM Extensions
OPT and STEM extensions are a temporary alternative to H1B visa. OPT (Optional Practical Training allows international graduates to work in USA for up to 12 months. However, graduates must work in the same field of education. International students who have studied STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Management) courses are eligible to extend their OPT training for another 24 months in USA. Several international students under OPT training used an H1B visa as a pathway to enter the job market in USA.
Conclusion
Even though H1B visa is the most popular pathway for Indian students to enter the job market in USA, the new H1B visa fees of USD 100,000 will limit the number of Indian students entering USA. This new policy will be affected by rising competition, and applicants will be required to consider alternative visa options. However, all the available options are O1, J1, L1, and OPT STEM extension. Apart from this, aspiring study abroad students can also aim for other countries such as Germany, Australia, Ireland, Canada and more.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How to convert student visa to H-1B visa?
A:
To convert the student visa, which is an F1 visa in USA into an H1B visa, international students will be required to obtain a sponsored job in USA. Students generally opt for the OPT (Operational Practical Training) in USA for 12 months before transitioning into the H1B.
Q: How to stay in the USA without H1B?
A:
To stay in USA without an H1B visa, you can explore the various alternate visas such as the O1, J1, L1, or OPT STEM extension. However, each visa type has its own rules and regulations. Hence, it is advisable to see the eligibility criteria before applying for the alternate visas.
Q: Which is better, H1B or EB2 visa?
A:
The EB2 visa is considered a better option as it is a pathway to the Green Card in the USA, which is permanent residency. However, an H1B visa is a temporary and non-immigrant visa in USA. H1B also requires a sponsored job for which the companies will be required to pay $100,000 as per the new rule by the Trump administration.
Q: Can international students get an H1B visa?
A:
International students studying in the USA can get the H1B visa if they stay longer under the OPT training. Usually, students transition into the H1B visa after completing their OPT training in USA.
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