First tariffs, and now the H-1B visa. US President Donald Trump’s latest announcement is a second blow to America’s relationship with India. Companies in the US will now have to pay a fee of USD 100,000 or approximately 88 lakhs for every H-1B visa. This will primarily impact Indians, as they have been one of the largest beneficiaries of H-1B visas, accounting for 71 per cent of approved visas in 2024. The Trump administration claims this fee is intended to ensure that individuals being brought into the country are “actually very highly skilled” and do not replace American workers.
