India Criticizes US Move to Impose $100,000 Annual Fee on H-1B Visas

Strategic Insights -

India's opposition has condemned the United States' decision to impose a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas, a move that is expected to significantly impact the country's tech professionals. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his response to the move, describing him as a "weak" leader. Congress leaders, including Gaurav Gogoi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Pawan Khera, have also expressed their opposition to the move, stating that it will damage the country's national interest and hurt Indian tech workers.

Key Takeaways:

  • India accounts for 71% of H-1B visa holders, making it the country most affected by the new fee.
  • The new visa fee of $100,000 is more than the median annual salary of a fresh H-1B visa holder and over 80% of the average annual salary of all H-1B visa holders.
  • Congress leaders have criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his response to the move, accusing him of being a "weak" leader who is more concerned with "strategic silence" and "loud optics" than with protecting the country's national interest.
  • The decision is expected to effectively kill the H-1B visa program, as the new fee makes it unaffordable for most Indian tech workers to obtain visas.
  • Congress leaders have also accused the Modi-led government of damaging the country's relationship with the United States through its handling of the issue.

Statistics:

  • 71% of H-1B visa holders are from India (HT analysis).
  • The new visa fee of $100,000 is more than the median annual salary of a fresh H-1B visa holder ($85,000 per year, according to a Reuter's report in 2022).
  • More than 80% of the average annual salary of all H-1B visa holders ($132,000 per year, according to a report by the National Science Foundation in 2020) will be consumed by the new visa fee.

Sources:

  • HT: "India has a weak PM, Rahul Gandhi writes after US imposes $100,000 fee on H-1B visas"
  • Reuters: "Tech visa holders may need to pay more under latest plan"
  • National Science Foundation: "Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering"
  • Press Trust of India: "Congress leaders slam Centre over H-1B visa fee"