India has strongly condemned the Trump administration's decision to impose a $100,000 fee on H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers, with ministers warning of 'humanitarian consequences' and accusing the US of being 'afraid of our talent'. The visa fee hike, which represents a 60-fold increase from the previous cost, took effect on Sunday and immediately sparked widespread concern among Indian IT professionals and companies, as India accounts for 71 per cent of approved H-1B visas.
The Indian external affairs ministry said the fee would cause 'disruption for families', while commerce minister Piyush Goyal claimed the US was 'a little afraid of our talent'. The new rule sent shockwaves through the tech industry, with shares of major Indian IT firms including Infosys and Tata Consulting Services slumping on Monday. Nasscom, India's IT trade body, warned of 'ripple effects on America's innovation ecosystem' and 'considerable uncertainty'.
Confusion and panic spread among H-1B visa holders, with immigration lawyers reporting frantic calls over the weekend. The White House later clarified that the fee applies only to new applicants, not renewals or existing visa holders. Before the clarification, companies such as Tata Consultancy Services, Microsoft, Amazon, and JPMorgan advised employees to return to the US before 21 September, forcing many workers to abandon travel plans. One worker described 'absolute panic', saying 'this is a travel ban'.
The chief minister of Telangana, which sends many skilled workers on H-1B visas, urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to treat the issue on a 'war footing'. In China, the second-largest beneficiary of H-1B visas with 11.7 per cent, the government has not yet responded, but social media users accused the US of 'maliciously crafting policies' to torment visa holders. Some said even an outright ban would be less insulting than the fee hike.
