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Emigration and immigration

Trump's Immigration Crackdown: $100,000 Fee Hits Indian Techies

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

United States President Donald Trump's new proclamation has sparked controversy among Indian techies, who use the H-1B visa program to work in the US. The move requires companies to pay a $100,000 application fee per year for H-1B worker visas, affecting thousands of Indians who enter the US each year for work. The proclamation restricts entry for aliens in specialty occupations unless their petition is accompanied by a $100,000 payment. Indian IT professionals make up 70% of H-1B visa holders, and China comes second with 11.7%. The H-1B program was created to bring temporary workers to supplement American workers, but it has been exploited to replace American workers with lower-skilled labor.

Key Takeaways:

  • The new proclamation requires companies to pay a $100,000 application fee per year for H-1B worker visas, affecting thousands of Indians who enter the US for work.
  • Indian IT professionals make up 70% of H-1B visa holders, while China comes second with 11.7%.
  • The H-1B nonimmigrant visa program was created to bring temporary workers into the US to perform additive, high-skilled functions, but it has been exploited to replace American workers with lower-skilled labor.
  • IT firms have manipulated the H-1B system, significantly harming American workers in computer-related fields, with their share of IT workers in the H-1B program growing from 32% in FY 2003 to over 65% in the last 5 fiscal years.
  • The proclamation restricts entry for aliens in specialty occupations unless their petition is accompanied by a $100,000 payment.
  • The H-1B program has been exploited by IT firms to replace American workers with lower-skilled labor, causing significant harm to American workers in computer-related fields.

Statistics:

  • 70% of H-1B visa holders are Indian IT professionals.
  • 11.7% of H-1B visa holders are from China.
  • The H-1B program has been exploited to replace American workers with lower-skilled labor.
  • The share of IT workers in the H-1B program grew from 32% in FY 2003 to over 65% in the last 5 fiscal years.
  • $100,000 application fee required per year for H-1B worker visas.

Sources:

  • White House statement
  • Hindustan Times

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