India: Trump’s H-1B Visa Fees Could Have ‘Humanitarian Consequences’

President Donald Trump’s shock government order imposing a $100,000 fee on H-1B applications has drawn concern from India, this system’s largest supply of overseas expertise.

H-1B visas are momentary visas that enable US employers to rent highly skilled foreign workers for specialised jobs within the US. Indian residents have lengthy dominated the ranks of H-1B recipients.

Within the 2024 fiscal yr, over 70% of H-1B visa approvals — some 280,000 individuals — went to individuals whose nation of start was India, in keeping with US Citizenship and Immigration Companies.

The Indian authorities issued a press release on Saturday in response to the most recent modifications, saying it might hinder technological progress.

“Expert expertise mobility and exchanges have contributed enormously to expertise growth, innovation, financial progress, competitiveness, and wealth creation in the US and India,” the Indian Ministry of Exterior Affairs stated in a press release.

It additionally stated the “measure is prone to have humanitarian penalties by means of the disruption brought about for households.”

The Indian Embassy within the US on Saturday supplied assist to Indian residents, publishing a hotline they’ll name for help.

Trump has maintained pleasant relations with India and its Prime Minister Narendra Modi throughout his second time period. “I’ll at all times be buddies with Modi. He is a good Prime Minister,” Trump stated on the White Home earlier this month.

Modi responded on X on the time, writing, “deeply admire and absolutely reciprocate Trump’s sentiments and constructive evaluation of our ties. India and the US have a really constructive and forward-looking Complete and World Strategic Partnership.”