The United States has abruptly rewritten key work-authorization rules, eliminated automatic extensions for many Employment Authorisation Documents, sharply raised H-1B costs, and tightened the citizenship process. These are the most sweeping immigration shifts since Donald Trump returned to office, and they will disproportionately impact Indian professionals, students, and their families who form the largest share of high-skilled migrants in the US system.
The most immediate change came without warning. The Department of Homeland Security ended automatic EAD extensions beginning October 30. Until now, individuals who applied for renewal could keep working while their paperwork was processed. Spouses of H-1B visa holders, students on Optional Practical Training, and several other visa categories depended on this continuity. With the removal of the automatic extension, renewals will now stall until they are fully vetted, a timeline that can stretch seven to ten months. During that wait period, work authorization lapses, which can interrupt employment and lead to job loss. Because Indian nationals dominate H-1B usage and OPT student numbers, they are expected to face the sharpest disruption.
This decision follows a separate move made weeks earlier. The Trump administration announced a new annual H-1B fee of USD 100,000 for beneficiaries outside the United States starting September 21, 2025. The fee applies only to employers filing new petitions for candidates not already in the US. Change-of-status applications, such as students shifting from F-1 to H-1B, remain exempt. Nevertheless, the cost burden on US companies sponsoring Indian talent will increase sharply. Some firms have already adjusted hiring practices. Walmart, the largest private US employer, temporarily halted recruitment of candidates requiring H-1B sponsorship after the announcement, signalling corporate hesitation and long-term risk to Indian tech workers.
Alongside employment hurdles, the citizenship path has also become more demanding. From October 20, 2025, Green Card holders applying for naturalisation must clear a tougher civics examination. Instead of answering six correct questions out of ten, applicants must correctly answer twelve out of twenty drawn from a larger bank of 128 questions. Two attempts are allowed. Failure leads to denial. USCIS officers will also scrutinize “good moral character” more closely. While those aged above 65 with two decades of permanent residency get a simplified version, the majority of new applicants will face a significantly higher bar. The administration has also expanded border-entry rules requiring Green Card holders to be photographed on every entry and exit, tightening mobility monitoring.
Each of these policy shifts aligns with Trump’s campaign promise to reduce immigration in the name of protecting American jobs. The sequence of actions—ending automatic EAD extensions, raising H-1B fees, making citizenship more difficult—signals a coordinated immigration slowdown. The US Department of Labor’s recent advertisement accusing employers of replacing American workers with foreign talent and pointing directly to India reinforces the policy direction.
For Indian families, students, and professionals building long-term careers in the US, the implications are structural: longer employment gaps, rising financial barriers, higher uncertainty, and slower pathways to citizenship. Immigration lawyers, corporate sponsors, and international students are re-evaluating timelines and contingency plans as the US resets the rules governing one of its most skilled migrant communities.
