India's Tech Industry Bracing for Impact: $100k H-1B Visa Fee Imposed by Trump Admin

INDIA REACTS TO TRUMP'S $100,000 H-1B VISA FEE: DREAMS SHATTERED FOR INDIAN WORKERS New Delhi, India - In a move that has sent shockwaves across the Indian tech industry, President Donald Trump's administration announced plans to impose a new annual fee of $100,000 on H-1B worker visas in the United States. The decision, which is set to take effect from October 2025, has left many Indians who had been hoping to work in the US reeling. According to sources, the new fee will be levied on employers sponsoring H-1B visa holders, with the revenue generated used to fund a new "American Worker Training Fund." The move is seen as a significant blow to India's tech industry, which has long relied on the H-1B program to send skilled workers to the US. "It's a nightmare for us," said Rohan Kumar, a software engineer from Bangalore who had been planning to apply for an H-1B visa. "The cost of living in the US is already high, and now we'll have to pay this huge fee on top of it. It's just not feasible." Kumar's sentiments were echoed by many others in the Indian tech industry, who expressed concern about the impact of the new fee on their businesses. "This move will only serve to drive up costs for employers and make it even harder for Indians to get hired," said Sanjay Jain, a CEO of a leading IT firm. "We're already seeing a decline in applications from India due to the uncertainty surrounding the H-1B program." The H-1B visa program has been a contentious issue in recent years, with critics arguing that it allows foreign workers to take jobs away from American citizens. However, proponents argue that the program is essential for filling skills gaps in the US tech industry. Background and context: The H-1B visa program was established in 1990 to allow employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialty occupations, such as technology and engineering. The program has been a key driver of growth for India's IT sector, with many Indian companies relying on it to send skilled workers to the US. However, in recent years, the Trump administration has implemented several changes to the H-1B program, including an increase in application fees and a shift towards a more merit-based system. The new $100,000 fee is seen as the latest step in this direction. Additional perspectives: While some Indian companies have expressed concern about the impact of the new fee on their businesses, others are taking a more pragmatic view. "We understand that the US government needs to take steps to protect American workers," said Ravi Shankar, a spokesperson for Infosys. "However, we hope that they will also consider the benefits of the H-1B program and work with us to find solutions that benefit both countries." Current status and next developments: The new fee is set to take effect from October 2025, although it's unclear how many employers will be affected by the change. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced plans to provide more information on the new fee in the coming weeks. As the Indian tech industry struggles to come to terms with the implications of the new fee, one thing is clear: the H-1B program remains a contentious issue that will continue to be debated for years to come. *Reporting by Aljazeera.*