India, Aug. 5 -- The Trump administration is moving ahead with a proposal to extend an existing surcharge on certain H-1B and L-1 visa petitions to extension applications, a step that could increase costs for large US employers that depend heavily on foreign skilled workers, including thousands of Indian professionals.

The proposal, included in the Department of Homeland Security's latest regulatory agenda, would expand the scope of the 9/11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee to cover extension-of-stay petitions for qualifying H-1B and L-1 workers. The additional fee currently applies only to certain initial H-1B petitions and change-of-employer filings, as well as qualifying L-1 petitions.

If finalized, the rule would require eligib...