The Indian government has voiced strong concerns over President Trump’s latest move to slap a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas.
This sudden hike could really hit Indian tech workers hard, especially since so many rely on those visas to work in the US.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs warned the fee might cause “humanitarian consequences.”
The fee will disrupt families and upend the lives of thousands of Indian professionals already facing a tough immigration system.
Indian IT companies, big names like Infosys and TCS, are now scrambling to understand what this means for their workers and projects.
At a time when both countries should be cooperating, this move feels like a punch to an already sensitive relationship.
Trump’s $100k H-1B visa fee: India’s response and impact
India isn’t sitting silent. Indian techies count for roughly 70% of all H-1B visas, and this fee hike threatens their jobs and families. Firms like Wipro and Infosys worry it’ll increase costs and may even force talented staff to find work elsewhere.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement:
The government has seen reports related to the proposed restrictions on the US H1B visa program. The full implications of the measure are being studied by all concerned, including by Indian industry, which has already put out an initial analysis clarifying some perceptions related to the H1B program.
“Skilled talent mobility and exchanges have contributed enormously to technology development, innovation, economic growth, competitiveness, and wealth creation in the United States and India,” the MEA said, adding, “Policy makers will therefore assess recent steps taken into account mutual benefits, which include strong people-to-people ties between the two countries,” it added.
Many professionals fear their families will suffer due to visa delays and new restrictions. There’s also a growing concern that this could hurt both India’s booming IT sector and America’s tech innovation because these workers play a vital role in both economies.
India-US Trade Tensions Run Deep
The fee hike isn’t happening in a vacuum. Relations between India and the US have been strained lately.
Last month, the US doubled tariffs on Indian goods like textiles and chemicals, hurting Indian exporters. Talks to smooth over these trade issues have stalled, leaving many angry on both sides.
This visa fee adds fuel to that fire, risking more trade retaliation and political pushback.
Experts worry this growing chill could harm cooperation on bigger issues like defense and energy, making it tougher for these two long-time partners to work together smoothly.
India now faces a tough job: protecting its workforce while managing a rocky relationship with the US. How this plays out will be key to the future of Indian tech talent abroad and the broader India-US partnership.
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