Trump Announces 100,000 Dollars H-1B Visa Fee Hike, Poses Challenge for Indian IT Firms

Washington DC: US President Donald Trump has announced a move that could adversely affect the operations of Indian IT companies in the United States. The Trump administration plans to impose an additional fee of 100,000 dollars (approximately 85 lakh rupees) on companies that hire foreign workers under the H-1B visa program.

The fee hike is being justified as a measure to protect the interests of American workers. The move is expected to have the greatest impact on leading Indian IT firms such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys and Wipro.

Under the proposed change, the fee payable by companies for H-1B visas would increase more than tenfold compared to the current charges. Trump’s objective is to make the hiring of foreign technology professionals more expensive, thereby compelling companies to recruit American citizens instead.

This substantial additional cost for every foreign worker is likely to significantly affect the profitability of Indian IT companies. The decision could also lead to a reduction in software exports from India and fewer employment opportunities in the IT sector.

Trump has earlier announced plans to tighten immigration laws. Indian IT companies in the US employ lakhs of workers every year through the H-1B visa.

Once the new fee comes into effect, the cost of projects awarded by American companies to Indian IT firms is also expected to rise. This move is likely to intensify the challenges faced by the Indian IT sector in the global market.