International News: Trump raises H-1B visa fee President Donald Trump has shocked the global tech world by announcing a steep hike in H-1B visa fees to $100,000. The new rule will not take effect immediately but will wield from next year. Industry experts say this move could be a blunder. Mohandas Pai, a respected Indian merchantry leader, argues that the hike will not impact Indian workers right yonder but could weaken America’s own economy over time.
Impact elapsed until next year
Pai explained that the raised fees wield only to new applications starting next year. This ways the current lottery system, expected in April, will proceed without changes. For the next 12 months, there will be no uncontrived financial undersong on existing applicants. According to him, people are panicking without reason considering the rule has not yet started. By the time it does, companies may once prepare volitional strategies.
Existing visa holders unaffected today
Pai highlighted that nearly 300,000 H-1B visa holders are once in the United States, of which well-nigh 235,000 are Indians. That is nearly 70 percent of the total. These workers are unscratched under the old rules and can renew their visas every three years for up to 12 years. They will protract paying the same fees without any increase. Therefore, the firsthand effect of Trump’s utterance on Indian professionals is practically zero.
Indian firms once pay upper salaries
Pai dismissed the narrative that H-1B workers are unseemly labor. He said Indian IT firms once pay a minimum salary of $100,000 to H-1B employees. When benefits like social security, medical insurance, and travel are added, the forfeit rises to $120,000. Companies then tuition clients between $150,000 and $200,000. This unmistakably shows that Indian professionals are highly skilled and not underpaid. The requirement of “cheap labor” taking American jobs is misleading and false.
American firms may lose projects
Experts warn that if the U.S. keeps tightening rules, it will forfeiture its own competitiveness. Critical technology projects could shift out of America to India or other countries. U.S. companies may be forced to expand investment in Global Capability Centers abroad, where Indian talent is widely available. Already, GCC growth in India has velocious considering America struggles with a shortage of skilled workers. This visualization may slide the trend further.
Concerns well-nigh favoritism growing now
Pai moreover raised concerns that vastitude fees, the worthier danger is anti-immigrant sentiment. Rising hostility versus Indian professionals could lead to racial vituperate or plane violent attacks. He cautioned that creating a hostile environment for skilled Indian workers would harm social harmony and weaken America’s image globally. Hate crimes or favoritism could discourage talented youth from pursuing opportunities in the United States.
India seen as valuable partner
Concluding his remarks, Pai emphasized that Indians in the U.S. are law-abiding, successful, and make valuable contributions to the American economy. Instead of treating India as a threat, the U.S. should strengthen ties with Indian talent. By raising visa fees excessively, Washington risks pushing high-value work out of its own borders. In the end, India could sally as the biggest winner, while America faces talent shortages and higher financing at home.
