India could gain from US President Donald Trump's move to impose a hefty fee of $100,000 for H-1B visas, said S Mahendra Dev, Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the prime minister.
Reacting to the development, Dev said the move could add momentum to India's 'Viksit Bharat' vision. The Council member said the move would deter talented professionals from leaving the country and launch startups in top Indian cities. "We will have more startups, more companies in cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad and Gurgaon," Dev told ANI. He added that the hefty visa fee would also encourage youths to look for opportunities in other countries.
US President Trump signed a proclamation, increasing the fee for H1-B visas to a staggering $100,000 annually. The move could heavily impact Indian techies seeking a visa in the US. Trump's move will impact how American companies hire skilled foreign workers.
Indian nationals reportedly receive the majority of H-1B approvals. Trump’s decision is likely to impact Indian IT services companies like Infosys, TCS, and Wipro, which have traditionally used H-1B visas to bring junior and mid-level engineers to the US for client projects and skills development.
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The Opposition Congress targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the hike in visa fees. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi came down heavily and said, "India has a weak PM."
Reacting to the development, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed concern that the steep hike would affect families. "This measure is likely to have humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families. The government hopes that these disruptions can be addressed suitably by the US authorities," official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement.
