Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar raised alarms on Sunday about a sharp rise in US H-1B visa fees, warning it could hit thousands of Indian IT professionals hard—especially those from Telangana and Hyderabad’s bustling tech scene.
The new fee, around Rs 90 lakh or about USD 100,000, targets fresh H-1B visa applications aimed at skilled foreign workers. Prabhakar highlighted how this could shake up Indian tech talent, hurt IT exports, and dash the dreams of young professionals eyeing jobs in the US. “Hyderabad sends so many skilled workers to America each year,” he said, pointing to the city’s role as a key IT hub.
Strong Indo-US ties thrive on sharing talent and tech, Prabhakar noted. But this sudden fee jump creates real uncertainty for Indian youth and global companies. He called on the Indian government to push back through diplomatic talks right away and shield professionals’ interests.
Prabhakar also urged IT firms, industry groups, and NRI communities to team up and show the US the wider economic fallout. The Telangana government, he added, stands ready to help affected families and workers, partnering closely with New Delhi to protect local talent opportunities.
Meanwhile, BJP Kerala State President Rajeev Chandrasekhar slammed the move by US President Donald Trump, who signed an executive order hiking H-1B visa sponsorship fees to USD 100,000. Chandrasekhar called it a blow to America’s own tech world.
Speaking to , he said India’s innovation ecosystem has grown strong and doesn’t rely solely on US chances anymore. “This isn’t smart for the American economy, but it’s their call,” he remarked. Still, he stressed that cross-border talent flow fuels global innovation—for both the US and India.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs echoed this, emphasizing how easy movement of skilled workers drives tech progress worldwide.
The US introduced this one-time USD 100,000 fee on September 21 to curb foreign skilled labor entry. It sparked quick panic among Indian professionals in the US, with lawyers advising H-1B holders and families abroad to rush back within 24 hours to dodge issues.
But the White House soon cleared things up: the fee only applies to new applicants, not current H-1B visa holders, easing worries for those already in the program.
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