'Increase in last-minute bookings': India-US last-minute flights spike after H-1B fee news, reports MakeMyTrip; US says existing visas unaffected

Last-minute India-US travel bookings surged on Sunday after the Trump administration announced a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa petitions, according to MakeMyTrip.

US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation introducing the fee, aimed at allowing only “extraordinarily skilled” workers into the country and discouraging firms from hiring foreign professionals over American employees.

A MakeMyTrip spokesperson said, as quoted by ET, “There has been a notable increase in last-minute bookings to the USA since this morning. This increase in bookings for same-day or next-day travel is atypical for a long-haul segment.”

Surge in flight bookings

Amid the rush, a one-way economy ticket on a Delhi-New York flight departing Saturday night was priced at Rs 1.05 lakh by Saturday afternoon. By evening, American Airlines flight AA 293, scheduled to leave Delhi at 11.30 pm and arrive in New York at 6.05 am Sunday, was reportedly the only remaining option to reach on time before the rule applies.

Tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft advised H-1B and H-4 visa holders in India to return before the rule took effect, while telling employees already in the US to stay put. Travel firms also anticipated inbound cancellations during the festive season.

White House clarification

However, after panic among guest workers worldwide and advisories from tech firms, the White House on Sunday clarified that the enhanced $100,000 fee applies only to new H-1B petitions filed in the next lottery cycle beginning March 2026.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stressed it would be a one-time fee and “does not apply to renewals or existing visa holders.” She added, “Those who already hold H-1B visas and are currently outside the country will not be charged $100,000 to re-enter. Their ability to travel remains unaffected by yesterday’s proclamation.”

Impact on Indian IT

India, home to about 71% of H-1B visa holders, is expected to feel the sharpest impact once the fee is implemented. IT majors like Infosys, Wipro, TCS, and Cognizant depend heavily on the program to staff US projects.

The announcement initially triggered a 2–5% drop in US-listed Indian IT stocks, with critics warning of risks to talent mobility and innovation. Supporters, however, argued the move would safeguard American jobs and encourage local hiring.