New Delhi, Sept. 20 -- The US government's sudden decision to impose a $100,000 annual fee on companies sending employees to the US on H-1B visas has forced Indian IT firms to return to the drawing board. The move, announced late on Friday by President Donald Trump just eight months into his tenure, has jolted an industry that sends thousands of skilled professionals to the US each year, often to fill roles for which American talent is scarce.

Mint examines the broader implications of this steep hike for India's $250-billion IT services industry and the millions of professionals whose livelihoods depend on it.

An H-1B visa grants an employee permission to work in the US for a maximum of six years, because the skills he or she has are no...