WASHINGTON (AP) – The Indian government on Saturday raised concerns about President Donald Trump’s latest push to adhere to American immigration policies. Dramatically raises prices For visas that bring high-tech workers from India and other countries to the US.
On Friday, the president signed a declaration that requires an annual fee of $100,000 on his H-1B visa. Prices will be valid on Sunday at 12:01am. It does not apply to existing H-1B visas and is scheduled to expire in one year. However, if the government determines it is “in the interest of the United States,” it can be expanded. ”
Trump also moved to face almost certain legal challenges amid widespread criticism of deploying a $1 million “gold card” visa for wealthy individuals and avoiding Congress.
If the move survives legal convening, they will bring in a staggering price increase. Visa fees for skilled workers start from $215.
AP Audio: India has raised concerns about Trump’s plan to raise fees on H-1B visas that will take tech workers to us
Associated Press Correspondent Julie Walker reports on pushbacks and criticism of President Trump’s H-1B visa changes.
India’s Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that Trump’s plan was “explored by all involved, including Indian industry.” The department warned that the measures would likely have humanitarian consequences from the disruptions caused by families. The government hopes that these disruptions can be properly addressed by US authorities.
Over 70% The ones owned by the H-1B visa are from India.
Critics say H-1B visas undermine American workers
H-1B visas that require at least a bachelor’s degree are intended for highly skilled jobs that tech companies find difficult to meet. Critics say the program covers American workers and tempts people from overseas who want to work for just $60,000 a year. That’s well below the $100,000 or more salary that is typically paid to U.S. technology workers.
Trump on Friday insisted that the tech industry would not oppose the move. Commerce Chief Secretary Howard Lutnick said “all big companies” were on board.
Representatives from the largest tech companies, including Amazon, Apple, Google and Meta, did not respond immediately to messages due to comments. Microsoft declined to comment.
“We are concerned about the impact on employees, their families and American employers,” the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said. “We work with the administration and our members to understand the full meaning and the best path forward.”
Lutnick said the change is likely to result in far fewer H-1B visas than 85,000 CAPs per year allowed, as it is “not economical anymore.”
“If I’m going to train people, I’m going to train Americans,” Lutnick said in a conference call with reporters. “If you have a very sophisticated engineer and want to bring them in… you can pay $100,000 a year for an H-1B visa.”
Trump has also announced he will do so. “Gold Card” visas will be on sale There is a path to US citizenship that is $1 million after review. For businesses, employee sponsorship costs $2 million.
Playing cards offer Platinum Cards
The “Platinum Card” will be available for $5 million, allowing foreigners to spend up to 270 days in the US without being subject to US tax on non-US income. Trump announced a $5 million gold card in February to replace existing investor visas. This is currently a platinum card.
Lutnick said gold and platinum cards will replace employment-based visas that offer a path to citizenship, including professors, scientists, artists and athletes.
Critics of the H-1B visa, who say they’re used to replacing American workers, praised the move. The advocacy group, the US tech worker, called it “the next best thing” to completely eliminate visas.
Doug Rand, a senior U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Officer during the Biden administration, said the proposed fee hike was “silly and lawless.”
“This is not a real policy. It’s fan service for immigration restrictors,” Rand said. “Trump gets his headline and gives a shock to panic and doesn’t care if this will survive his initial contact with the court.”
“The president has no legal authority to tax American visas,” said Michael Clemens, an economist at George Mason University who studies immigration. “He has the authority to set a rate of $100,000 or $100 million or charge a reasonable fee for his personal whimsical whims.
“If the President feels that H-1B visas are harmful, he can work with representatives of the people of Congress to reform the laws regulating those visas. His choice to legislate by declaration overturns our entire immigration governance system,” Clemens said. of confused and terrified workers and millions of colleagues and family members. ”
Lutnick said H-1B fees and gold cards could be introduced by the president, but the platinum card requires Congressional approval.
Visa dolled out by lottery
Historically, H-1B visas have been kicked out via lottery. This year, Amazon was the top recipient of the H-1B visa, with over 10,000 people awarded, followed by Tata Consultancy, Microsoft, Apple and Google. Geographically, California has the highest number of H-1B workers.
Critics say that H-1B spots are often not senior positions with unique skill requirements and often go to entry-level jobs. Also, while the program is not intended to take away or drive away US workers, critics say that even if the particular workers hired have more experience, companies can pay less by categorizing jobs at the lowest skill level.
As a result, many US companies are cheaper to contract desks, programming and other basic tasks with Wipro, Infosys, HCL Technologies and TATA consulting companies, while IBM and IBM and cognitive abilities in the US have often contracted to US employers who seek to save money by hiring foreign workers from India.
Ron Hella, a professor at Howard University’s political science department and a longtime critic of the H-1B visa, said the plan was a move in the right direction.
“It’s recognised that the program is being abused,” he said.
He said the increase in visa fees is an unusual way to address the shortcomings of the H-1B program. Usually, he said reformers are looking for ways to raise wages for foreign workers and eliminate incentives to use them to replace well-paid Americans. He said Trump’s declaration has approved the request under the visa program that “will commence rules to modify general wage levels.”
Critics of the H-1B visa are also calling for the lottery to be replaced by auctions seeking businesses to introduce foreign workers.
First Lady received an H-1B visa in the 90s
Former Melania Naus, First Lady Melania Trump was granted an H-1B workplace visa in October 1996 to work as a model. She was born in Slovenia.
In 2024, visa lottery bids plummeted by nearly 40%, but authorities said it was due to success against people who “game the system” by unfairly submitting multiple, sometimes suspicious applications.
The major technology companies using the H-1B visa have sought change after a massive increase in bids has made employees and future recruits slimmer to win random lottery tickets. That was admitted, likely fraud and abuse, and USCIS this year said that, whether each employee had one job or 50 people, only had one shot in the lottery.
Critics welcomed the change, but said there was more to be done. Last year, AFL-Cio wrote that lottery changes “involved several steps in the right direction,” but lacked the necessary reforms. The labor group hopes to award visas to companies paying the highest wage, rather than the random lottery, the change Trump sought in his first term at the White House.
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Ortutay reported from Oakland, California. Lauderdale, Florida, Elliot Spagut in San Diego and Paul Wiseman in Washington contributed to this report.
