H-1B $100,000+ shock: Nasscom says Indian IT has already changed the game

Nasscom has urged the US to view the proposed $103,265 H-1B visa fee in the context of the programme’s original purpose: filling temporary skill shortages in the country.

The US Department of Homeland Security has proposed the fee through a regulation that is open for public comments for 30 days. The administration says the charge would help recover costs related to the immigration system and encourage employers to hire and train American workers instead of relying on foreign labour.

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Nasscom said the H-1B programme has long helped address short-term skill gaps in the US.

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“It is also important to recognise that, over the past 5 years, the number of H-1B employees of Indian technology companies operating has reduced significantly, as companies have steadily expanded local hiring,” the industry body said.

Nasscom added that the Indian technology industry has invested more than $1.1 billion in strengthening the STEM talent pipeline in the US.

The investment has involved work with more than 130 universities and colleges, benefiting 2.9 million students and upskilling more than 255,000 employees, it said.

“A proposed increase in visa fees must therefore be viewed in the context of the programme’s original purpose of enabling access to temporary skills where there is a shortage in the US,” Nasscom said.

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The industry body said it remains engaged with key stakeholders on the matter.

The proposed fee would apply to H-1B petitions covered by the annual visa cap. It is not in force yet and would have to go through the public-comment and rule-making process before any final decision.