The White House justified President Donald Trump’s plan to impose a USD 100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications. Officials said the move aims to protect American workers from being replaced by lower-paid foreign labor.
The fact sheet highlighted that H-1B visas for IT workers rose from 32% in FY 2003 to over 65% in recent years. Unemployment among recent computer science graduates has reached 6.1%, and 7.5% for computer engineering graduates, double the rates for biology or art history majors.
The White House cited examples of companies laying off thousands of US workers while receiving large H-1B approvals. Officials said the policy puts American workers first and supports jobs for US-born employees.
The decision raised concerns in India, as 71–72% of H-1B visas go to Indian tech professionals. The Indian government said it is studying the full implications of the fee, including its humanitarian impact on families.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal added that both Indian and US industries have a stake in innovation and will consult on the best way forward.
