US decision to raise H-1B visa fees likely to hurt America more than India: GTRI

The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) has said that a decision of the US President Donald Trump to raise H-1B visa fees to $100,000 per worker is likely to hurt America more than India. It said that Indian IT firms already employ 50-80% locals in the US, about 100,000 Americans in total.

It said ‘so the measure won't create many new jobs. Instead, it will make hiring Indians on-site costlier than hiring locals.’ Explaining further, it said an IT manager with five years' experience earns $120,000-$150,000 in the US, versus 40% less on H-1B and 80% less in India.

GTRI Founder Ajay Srivastava said faced with this huge fee, firms will accelerate offshoring, doing more work remotely from India. He said that means fewer H-1B petitions, less local hiring, higher project costs for US clients, and slower innovation.

He noted that India must plan to benefit from fee hikes by using the returning talent to build domestic capacity in software, cloud, and cybersecurity -- turning a US protectionist step into a long-term boost for India's digital ‘Swaraj Mission’.

On September 19, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation raising the fee on the visas used by companies to hire workers, including from India, to live and work in the US. The H-1B visa fee of $100,000 would be applicable only to new applicants.