New Executive Order Imposes Significant H-1B Visa Fees
In a controversial move, President Donald Trump has enacted an executive order introducing an annual fee of $100,000 (£74,000) for applicants vying for the H-1B visa program, aimed at skilled foreign workers.
The order cites “abuse” of the program as a rationale for this substantial financial barrier, asserting that entry will be contingent upon the payment of this fee.
In a separate initiative, Trump unveiled a new “gold card” designed to expedite visa processing for select immigrants, with fees commencing at approximately £1 million.
This dramatic shift is anticipated to impact thousands of skilled foreign workers, notably among the Indian community, which represents the majority of H-1B visa holders in the United States.
The substantial increase in H-1B visa fees has sent ripples of anxiety throughout the tech industry and has fueled discussions on social media platforms. Prominent corporations like Microsoft and Amazon have issued ultimatums to their visa-holding employees, demanding their return to the United States within 24 hours.
In response to the overwhelming response to the $100,000 fee, the internet has seen a deluge of memes that juxtapose humor with anxiety. Social media users have cleverly employed iconic scenes from classic Bollywood films, including memorable moments from “Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge” (DDLJ) and “Phir Hera Pheri,” to illustrate the haste felt by H-1B visa holders.
Memes on H-1B Visa Surge on Social Media
Trump’s executive order, which initiates Project Firewall, will compel many foreign workers on H-1B visas to return to the U.S. before September 21, 2025, or risk potential expulsion. This order is set to remain in effect for 12 months, with social media platforms awash in reactions that have sparked global concern for Indian H-1B visa holders.
Prominent entrepreneurs, such as Vijay Shekhar Sharma from Paytm, humorously remarked, “H1B visa comes with a price tag of $100k! Also available: $1Mn for a golden visa and $5Mn for a platinum visa. Which will be your master card?”
As discussions around the H-1B visa fee increase proliferated, social media users transformed this tense situation into a comedic spectacle. One meme humorously depicted a scene from DDLJ, showing Amrish Puri welcoming back NRIs to India, while another user jested that all H-1B visa holders would now flock to job interviews in Noida’s Mangolpuri Industrial Area—a well-known industrial hub in India.
Another user expressed support for Trump’s action, highlighting that the pursuit of a U.S. lifestyle has become a status symbol in the Telugu States. The user noted the irony that a relative cleaning bathrooms in America garners more respect than a software engineer in India at family gatherings.
In a sarcastic quip, one user suggested that coding might now need to be done in Sanskrit, while another humorously stated, “India has extracted oil from Russia; now Trump aims to extract oil from Indians!”
Indian Government’s Response to H-1B Visa Changes
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that it is currently assessing the ramifications of the U.S. decision to impose a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas, emphasizing that such measures could have “humanitarian consequences.”
The ministry stated, “The government has seen reports related to the proposed restrictions on the US H1B visa program. The full implications of the measure are being studied by all concerned, including by Indian industry.”
The MEA underscored that both India and the U.S. share a vested interest in “innovation and creativity” and that mutual consultations to determine an optimal course forward are expected.
The ministry also acknowledged that the mobility of skilled talent has significantly contributed to technological advancement, economic growth, and wealth creation in both nations.
Furthermore, the new fee structure could entail profound humanitarian implications, particularly concerning familial disruptions. The notable escalation in H-1B visa fees—from a range of $1,000 to $5,000 to an exorbitant $100,000 annually—marks yet another step in the current administration’s ongoing efforts to scrutinize immigration policies, with India poised to bear the brunt of this policy shift, given that 71% of H-1B visa holders hail from the country.
Source link: M.economictimes.com.
