India warns of ‘likely humanitarian consequences’ after US H-1B visa fee hike

India Express ^ | 9/20/2025 | Shubhajit Roy

[marcusmaximus]

Hours after the US administration put a prohibitive USD 100,000 (about Rs 88 lakh) as fee for H-1B visa applications, India said on Saturday that this measure is likely to have “humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families” and the Indian government expressed hoped that these disruptions can be “addressed suitably by the US authorities”.

The Ministry of External Affairs’ official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “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 by Indian industry, which has already put out an initial analysis clarifying some perceptions related to the H-1B program.”

He said that the industry in both India and the US has a “stake in innovation and creativity” and can be expected to “consult on the best path forward”.

“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 spokesperson said, adding that “policy makers will therefore assess recent steps taking into account mutual benefits, which include strong people-to-people ties between the two countries.”

“This measure is likely to have humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families. Government hopes that these disruptions can be addressed suitably by the US authorities,” it said.

[butlerweave]

India another Leech country

[Palio di Siena]

I’ve seen you comment on this many times.
I’m sorry for the bad stuff you went through
What I can’t figure out though - is who was putting pressure on these
companies to do what they did.
Were there IRS threats? Banking or financing threats?
I think some of the “social” or “woke” scores are at the bottom of this - but
there has/had to be an enforcer.
Somehow - the boards of directors of these companies were gotten to some way.

[central_va]

Thank you God for hearing our prayers and ending this abomination. God bless Donald Trump.

[Mlheureux]

India’s problem!

[xp38]

I see this as a bit of retaliation for India flipping the bird about buying Russian oil. Things can now continue or they come to the negotiating table.

[lefty-lie-spy]

Waaaaaah!!!!
I don’t care.
If it wasn’t a problem before, it is definitely now. We did fine before H1B visas.

[Vigilanteman]

The hard truth, but the truth indeed.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Hours after the US administration put a prohibitive USD 100,000 (about Rs 88 lakh) as fee for H-1B visa applications, India said on Saturday that this measure is likely to have “humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families”

Oh baloney - India's economy is one of the fastest growing the world. They can employ everyone who they graduate - the real gripe here is that India is worried they'll get less money flowing back to India in remittances from Indians working in the US.

[hal ogen]

What about the “humanitarian consequences” of the hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of them being here?????

[AnotherUnixGeek]

I see this as a bit of retaliation for India flipping the bird about buying Russian oil.

China is doing the same. So, for that matter, are the NATO nations which insist that the US taxpayer take care of Ukraine.

[butlerweave]

India should go talk to their Russian/Chinese Buddies

[Allegra]

I learned a long time ago that givers have to set limits because takers won’t.

I like the way you put that. And it’s so true.

[epluribus_2]

China used to do that too in I.T. until companies (not government) figured out that their “employees” were stealing trillions of bytes of business and technical data and “visiting families” once a year to disseminate.

[MarlonRando]

Wouldn’t that be something. McDonald’s has a $5 bag meal and I noticed last week that Checkers has a new “Glorilla” $4 bag. I remember the .99 burger wars

[wetgundog]

HA! How about AMERICAN families that have unemployed IT and Engineering breadwinners shut out of jobs rightly theirs by companies hiring outsiders at slave wages.

[marcusmaximus]

How about AMERICAN families that have unemployed IT and Engineering breadwinners shut out of jobs rightly theirs by companies hiring outsiders at slave wages.

[bobbo666]

So, those that sold slaves into the US are complaining about “humanitarian” impacts?

F@#$ you!

[politicket]

Hey India - kiss off...sincerely, me.

[politicket]

So do current visa holders get a pass?

Unless they have to renew their Visa over the next year, or the $100,000 fee gets extended past one year.

[politicket]

They open up their own branch in India. No one has to come over in the first place.

Correct. This does not affect off-shore resources who stay in India - only Visa.

However, it should still have a good affect in about 10 cities in the US where the Indians have taken over large segments.

That's better than nothing and a step forward.