H-1B Visa Fee Hike: Impact and Concerns for Indian Professionals 🇮🇳

President Donald #TRUMP signed a proclamation raising the H-1B visa fee to $100,000 annually, effective September 21, 2025. This significant hike has raised alarms among Indian professionals and tech companies in the U.S. as it will disproportionately impact Indian workers, who make up over 70% of H-1B visa holders. 🚨

Impact on Indian Tech Talent 💼

The new fee is more than 60% of the average annual salary for Indian workers on H-1B visas in the U.S., particularly hitting those in the IT and tech sectors. Major companies like Amazon, TCS, Microsoft, and Google have large numbers of H-1B visa holders, which means the new policy will affect thousands of employees. 🖥️💸

Global Response 🌍

Nasscom, India's top industry body, has urged member companies to bring back H-1B workers currently outside the U.S. due to the one-day deadline before the new fee takes effect. ⏳

South Korea is also assessing the impact of this change on their workers and companies seeking H-1B visas. 🏢

Indian opposition leaders like Akhilesh Yadav criticized the Indian government for its lack of preparedness, calling it a “weak” foreign policy response. 🗣️

Humanitarian Impact 🤝

The fee hike is likely to cause disruptions for many families, with some workers being forced to choose between staying in the U.S. or returning to India. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is currently studying the full implications of this change on Indian industry and global innovation. 🌐

The Bigger Picture 🔍

Critics argue that this policy is a blow to U.S. innovation and could stifle the flow of skilled workers from abroad, affecting both tech development and economic growth. With the U.S. needing foreign talent to maintain its technological edge, this move has sparked debates on whether it will drive the next wave of patents and innovation away from American shores. 💡

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