US Tightens H-1B Visa Rules, Probes Layoffs and Extends $100,000 Employer Fee

UPDATED: Sep 19, 2026 09:23 ISTThe US administration has moved to tighten H-1B visa regulations to prioritise American workers and address alleged visa abuse by employers. Under a new executive order, US agencies including the Department of State, the Department of Labor, and Homeland Security have been instructed to coordinate probes and review labour conditions. The investigation focuses on employers and sponsors that have laid off US workers between 2022 and 2026 while hiring lower-paid foreign replacements, including through third-party placement groups and outsourcing firms. The administration has also extended a 100,000-dollar visa fee requirement by one year. The scrutiny particularly impacts sectors such as information technology, where Indian professionals constitute a significant portion of the workforce. The measures reflect an America First policy approach to protect domestic employment. Read MoreVIDEOS FROM OTHER SECTIONSLATEST VIDEOSPOCSO Case Against Industrialist R Veeramani Widens As Police Trace Multiple VictimsThe POCSO case against Tamil Nadu industrialist R. Veeramani has widened as police identify multiple victims, several of whom are from economically weaker sections. A case has been registered under the POCSO Act and the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. The case emerged in October 2025 through a pen drive video showing a minor girl being sexually assaulted. After a special POCSO court rejected the police's initial closure report, a revived probe focused on a rented house in Chennai's Teynampet, managed by Veeramani's associate Shanti and her husband, both of whom have been arrested. Investigators are tracing multiple survivors and offenses dating back to 2003, having recovered documents and belongings of minor girls during searches.Kerala Congress Leadership Meet in Thrissur Turns Violent; 2 Youth Workers Injured in Factional ClashA leadership meeting of the Kerala Congress in Thrissur erupted into violence following internal friction between two party factions. The physical altercation resulted in injuries to two youth workers. Heavy police personnel were deployed at the venue to bring the situation under control. The factional rift reportedly stems from discontent over a senior party leader representing the Irinjalakuda constituency being denied a ministerial post.IIT Bombay Student Suicide: Protests Erupt on Campus as Students Seek Director ResignationA massive protest erupted at the IIT Powai campus in Bombay following the death by suicide of a second-year student, Sahil, who was found hanging in his hostel room. Protesting students have demanded the resignation of the IIT director and called for a transparent and fair investigation into the incident. The IIT administration stated that the student was caught using a phone to access ChatGPT during an exam and was counselled afterwards. However, students rejected the administration's version, alleging that the threat of suspension may have led to the suicide, while questioning the administration's accountability following multiple incidents.Trump Signs Sanctions Law Targeting Russian Oil Buyers; India And China In FocusUnited States President Donald Trump has signed into law a new sanctions measure targeting Russia and Iran, which allows the imposition of tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the top five buyers of Russian oil and gas. While the legislation does not explicitly name India and China, both countries remain among the largest purchasers of Russian energy. The law grants the US president full authority after 30 days to issue decrees determining tariff scope, exemptions, or product-specific duties. The development introduces a new variable amid ongoing bilateral trade negotiations between India and the United States, where discussions around a potential trade deal are reported to be near completion. The law is also viewed as an instrument to increase pressure regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict.