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New Delhi: India has voiced concern over the United States' decision to impose $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas. In its first official response, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Saturday that it was studying the implications of the measure, which was announced by President Donald Trump through a proclamation on Friday. “The government has seen reports related to the proposed restrictions on the US H-1B visa program. The full implications of the measure are being studied by all concerned, including Indian industry,” the ministry said.
The MEA also said that “Skilled talent mobility and exchanges have contributed enormously to technology development, innovation, economic growth, competitiveness and wealth creation in the United States and India."
India emphasised that policymakers in both countries would need to weigh mutual benefits, including strong people-to-people ties. “The new requirement is likely to have humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families."
“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 taking into account mutual benefits, which include strong people-to-people ties between the two countries.” The ministry also said that the new requirement is “likely to have humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families".
Trump's move, the new $100,000 fee, marks an insurmountable increase from the existing $1,000–$5,000. The impact on India is expected to be particularly severe, given that Indian nationals account for approximately 71 per cent of all H-1B visa holders. Currently, approximately 300,000 Indian professionals, primarily in the technology industry, reside and work in the United States on these visas.
According to a report by Hindustan Times, the proposed fee is higher than the median annual salary of an entry-level H-1B worker and more than 80 per cent of the average salary of all visa holders. The report also states that this would make it unviable for most companies to sponsor foreign workers.
