U.S. H-1B Visa Fee Increase Raises Alarm Among Indian IT Professionals
India’s IT
sector faces fresh turbulence after the U.S. announced a $100,000 annual fee
for H-1B visa holders, a move that could significantly impact project delivery
and employee mobility. NASSCOM has raised red flags, warning that the sudden
fee may disrupt ongoing operations, especially for U.S.-based teams dependent
on Indian talent.
The fee, part of
a broader U.S. immigration overhaul, comes at a time when Indian professionals
dominate the H-1B workforce in sectors like software services, cloud computing,
and AI. Industry bodies stress that mid-career employees, often critical for project
leadership, could be particularly affected if visa arrangements are delayed or
canceled.
Several multinational tech firms,
including Microsoft and Amazon, have advised India-based H-1B and H-4 employees
to either return promptly to the U.S. or remain in-country to avoid being
locked out under the new rules. HR teams are reportedly coordinating with
affected staff to manage travel, compliance, and visa processing.
Experts note that the policy
change not only raises operational costs for Indian IT firms but could also
impact innovation pipelines, with potential knock-on effects for startups and
global digital projects reliant on Indian tech talent.
NASSCOM is engaging with the U.S.
embassy and the Indian government to seek clarity and mitigation, emphasizing
that India’s skilled workforce is vital to global IT service continuity and
innovation.
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