External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday emphasised the importance of a “global workforce,” highlighting that several countries are unable to meet their labour demands solely from domestic populations.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s remarks come amid ongoing trade and tariff tensions, as well as US President Donald Trump’s tough immigration policies, including a new USD 100,000 fee on H-1B visas, which primarily impacts Indian professionals, who make up the bulk of visa recipients.
Speaking at an event organised by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) alongside the UN General Assembly in New York, Jaishankar stated, “There is a reality. You cannot run away from it. Where the global workforce is to be housed and located may be a matter of political debate. But there is no getting away. If you look at demand and demographics, demands cannot be met in many countries purely out of national demographics.”
Impact On India
The H-1B visa has long been an important route for Indian tech workers in the US. Since Indians receive about 71–72% of these visas, the new USD 100,000 fee hike has raised worries about its effect on them.
The hefty fee, combined with existing application and legal costs, could make the H-1B visa programme prohibitively expensive for both employees and employers.
The White House has justified the USD 100,000 H-1B visa fee hike, citing potential job losses among American workers.
Impact on H-1B Programme
The H-1B visa programme grants 85,000 visas each year, including 20,000 specifically reserved for individuals with advanced U.S. degrees. The system’s weighted selection prioritises higher-paid and highly skilled workers, making it harder for lower-paying or less specialised positions to secure visas.
The newly introduced USD 100,000 petition fee adds another layer of challenge. Employers will now need to carefully weigh the filing costs against their staffing requirements.
Both the hefty fee and the weighted selection criteria are expected to significantly change the H-1B landscape starting with the 2027 visa cycle. This will create a fundamentally different process for American companies and foreign professionals seeking employment in the United States.