Politics · India Bureau
Proposed H-1B visa fee hike risks pushing US jobs abroad, Indian-American group warns
An Indian-American advocacy organisation has cautioned that a proposed $103,265 additional fee for H-1B work visas could make hiring economically unfeasible for companies, potentially prompting them to relocate high-value positions overseas.
LSN India ·
The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) has raised concerns about the US Department of Homeland Security's proposal to impose an additional $103,265 fee on all H-1B visa cap-subject applications, including those qualifying for the advanced degree exemption.
The organisation warned that the extraordinary levy could render legitimate hiring practices economically impractical, inadvertently incentivising multinational corporations to establish high-value positions in other countries rather than the United States. FIIDS acknowledged the DHS and US Citizenship and Immigration Services require adequate funding to protect national security, prevent fraud, and manage legal immigration processes.
However, the group argued the proposed fee structure would disproportionately impact cash-strapped startups while imposing massive additional costs on larger employers. Companies hiring thousands of H-1B workers could face cumulative expenses reaching hundreds of millions of dollars, potentially exceeding one billion dollars in aggregate additional costs, according to FIIDS estimates.
The proposal, announced by the Department of Homeland Security, has sparked debate among employers, industry groups, and immigrant advocacy organisations regarding its potential economic implications for the US job market and international competitiveness.