The decision to increase the fee on H-1B visa by $100,000 has created an uproar in America. 20 states filed a case against Trump and said – no president is above the Constitution. The question is, will this policy stop or will the problems of Indian professionals increase?
H-1B Visa Fee Hike: America’s H-1B visa program is considered a major gateway for top talent and skilled professionals from around the world. Especially for Indian IT and Tech professionals, this visa has been the strongest means of making a career in America. But now a big legal and political uproar has arisen in America regarding this H-1B visa. 20 American states have jointly filed a lawsuit against the Trump government against the Donald Trump administration’s decision to impose an annual fee of $ 100,000 (about Rs 83 lakh) on every new application for H-1B visa. States say that this decision is not only illegal, but it can also put essential public services in danger.
What is the controversy about increasing H-1B visa fees?
The Trump administration announced in September that a hefty fee of $100,000 will now be charged on any new H-1B visa application. The government argued that this would improve the system and American workers would get priority. But as soon as this decision came to light, fear and panic spread among thousands of Indian professionals working in America and preparing to go there. From tech companies to health and government sectors, concerns about this decision increased everywhere.
States’ allegation: Trump has no authority
The case is being led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta. He clearly said that the Trump administration does not have the authority to fix fees in this way. According to Bonta, “President Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee is unlawful and imposes an undue economic burden on California’s public employers and essential service providers. It could worsen labor shortages in many critical sectors.”
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“No President is above the Constitution”
“No presidential administration can rewrite immigration laws. No president can ignore Congress, ignore the Constitution, and be above the law,” Rob Bonta said sternly at a press conference in San Francisco. He says that California is the fourth largest economy in the world and skilled professionals coming from all over the world have played a big role in its growth.
Which states stood against Trump?
The case involves California as well as major states like New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, New Jersey and Washington. The special thing is that all these states are being represented by Democratic Attorney General. According to Bloomberg report, this is the third major lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s visa fee increase.
Trump administration’s counterattack
The White House has rejected these allegations. Spokesperson Taylor Rogers said the H-1B fee is completely legal and is a necessary step toward reforming the program. According to him, “President Trump had promised to put American workers first. This decision on H-1B visa prevents companies from abusing the system and protects the salaries of American workers.”
H-1B visa and important role of Indian professionals
H-1B visa has long been the biggest way for Indian professionals to work in the US. Earlier this visa was given through lottery system. Amazon was the largest company to receive H-1B visas this year, receiving more than 10,000 visas. After this come companies like TCS, Microsoft, Apple and Google. Geographically, California has the highest number of H-1B workers.