The introduction of a $100,000 annual fee for H-1B visa applications could significantly impact the global operations of Indian tech firms deploying skilled workers to the U.S., as stated by India’s IT industry body, Nasscom, on Saturday.
Following the White House’s announcement on Friday, major U.S. tech companies advised visa holders to either stay in the country or return swiftly. This fee is Washington’s most prominent move to reform the temporary employment visa system.
Nasscom, representing India’s $283 billion IT and business outsourcing sector, expressed that the sudden implementation of this policy would affect Indian nationals and disrupt ongoing projects for Indian tech companies in the U.S.
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The industry group highlighted that the one-day notice for the policy’s execution creates “significant uncertainty for businesses, professionals, and students worldwide.”
They also indicated that the policy could have “ripple effects” on the U.S. innovation landscape and global job markets, stating that companies will need to “adjust to the additional costs.”
Microsoft, JPMorgan, and Amazon advised their H-1B visa-holding employees to remain in the U.S., as per internal emails reviewed by Reuters.
Since January, President Donald Trump has initiated a wide-ranging crackdown on immigration, targeting specific legal immigration avenues.
