New Delhi, Sept 21: The Indian government has warned that a new $100,000 fee for H-1B skilled worker visa applications ordered by US President Donald Trump will have “humanitarian consequences,” the BBC reported.
The fee, more than 60 times the current charge, is set to take effect on Sunday, 21 September.
According to the BBC, Indians receive over 70% of all H-1B visas, making them the most affected group. Some US tech firms reportedly advised visa holders to stay in the country or return quickly if abroad. The White House later clarified that the new fee would not apply to existing visas or renewals.
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The BBC said India’s Ministry of External Affairs expressed concern that the fee could disrupt families and urged Washington to address the issue. The ministry stressed that skilled worker exchanges have benefitted both nations and said policymakers should weigh steps that strengthen “people-to-people ties.”
The BBC notes that India did not specify if it would retaliate but confirmed that Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal will travel to Washington for trade talks on Monday. This comes amid ongoing trade tensions after the US imposed tariffs on India for buying Russian oil.
India’s leading tech lobby Nasscom told the BBC that implementing such a sweeping change with little notice has created “considerable uncertainty” for global businesses and workers.
The BBC reports that the White House defended the move by arguing that H-1B visas are being misused to undercut American wages and outsource jobs. It added that case-by-case exemptions could be granted in the national interest.
If implemented as planned, the BBC said the new fee could reshape global skilled worker mobility and significantly raise costs for Indian tech talent seeking to work in the US.
