H-1B visa fee may be hiked

Indian IT may soon have another reason to hire Americansover desi techies. Media reports suggest the Trump administration isconsidering increasing H-1B visa fees to fund a technology-related apprenticeprogramme for American youths. The details of the plan are sketchy, and neitherthe extent of the hike nor the categories it will apply to be clear. Indian ITcompanies account for nearly two-thirds of the H-1B visas issued totechnology workers even as rejections have risen to a 10-year high.The last hike in H-1B visa fee to 1,600-7,000 dollar happened under the Obamaadministration in 2016.

We know Indians are a huge percentage of OPT students aswell as H1B visa holders in the US, but they are as well in the UK according tonew data that shows 54% of skilled professional work visa holders were fromIndia.

It is time for Indians to pay back what they have beentaking away from the US. At least, that is what the Trump administrationthinks. It is all set to raise visa filing fees yet again, and that's not goodnews for the IT industry and the scores of professionals who are hoping to goon-site.