After 50% tariff, $100,000 annual fee for H-1B visa: Trump's latest hits skilled Indian labour in US, Pg 1.

Key Highlights:

• US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to raise the H-1B visa fee to $100,000 annually.
• The new fee targets skilled Indian labor, who received 72% of the nearly 4 lakh visas issued between October 2022 and September 2023.
• Previously, the H-1B visa fee ranged from $2000-$5000, depending on employer size.
• The new rules, applicable from September 21, will make it expensive for companies to hire Indian professionals.

Detailed Insights:

• The H-1B visa is valid for three years and can be renewed for another three years, with companies sponsoring applicants.
• Critics argue the H-1B program is misused by tech corporations to staff low-to-mid-level positions at lower pay than Americans.
• In US fiscal year 2023, nearly 70% of H-1B petitions approved for Indian professionals were for salaries below $100,000 per annum.
• Immigration is a polarizing issue in the US, with concerns that it depresses wages and takes away jobs from the American working class.
• The Trump administration's move aligns with the view that American businesses should prioritize hiring American workers.

Key Concepts Involved:

• H-1B Visa: A non-immigrant visa that allows US employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations.
• USCIS: United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency overseeing lawful immigration to the United States.
• MAGA Republicans: Supporters of Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" movement, often associated with nativist views.