India, Sept. 23 -- Megha (name changed), originally from Andhra Pradesh, moved to the US for her master's and later secured an H-1B to work in IT. The new $100,000 H-1B visa fee has now added fresh uncertainty.

"For my next renewal, I'll likely face the new fee, especially if I transfer to a new employer," she told HT.com. "For new entrants to the H-1B lottery, it's an even bigger hurdle, and I expect many people will return to India because of it."

However, she has a home in Bengaluru that she purchased a couple of years ago, giving her family a place to fall back on if they have to move back.

She explained that if costs rise and opportunities shrink, many will choose to return permanently. For those who haven't yet invested in India,...