Amid H-1B visa fee crisis, Indian Embassy issues emergency helpline number
Washington (The Uttam Hindu): US President Donald Trump has announced a $100,000 annual fee for H-1B visa applications raising concerns among Indian professionals. Following the announcement, the Indian Embassy in Washington on Saturday released an emergency helpline number for Indian citizens seeking immediate assistance.
"Indian citizens seeking emergency assistance may contact +1-202-550-9931. This number is only for Indian citizens seeking immediate emergency assistance and not for general consular inquiries," the embassy said in a post on X. The move has raised serious concerns about its impact on Indian tech professionals and remittances as nearly 71 percent of H-1B visas are issued to Indian citizens.
In a bid to defuse the situation, a senior US administration official clarified that the hefty fee will apply only to new H-1B visa applications and not to existing visa holders or those seeking renewal. The White House on Saturday said it is a one-time fee that applies only to new visas and not to visa renewals or existing visa holders. A White House official said the new fee for H-1B visas will apply only to new visa petitions and not to renewals or existing visa holders.
Meanwhile, the Indian government has directed all its embassies and missions to provide all possible assistance to Indian citizens returning to the US within the next 24 hours. The Ministry of External Affairs also took note of the development and stated that it is carefully reviewing the extensive changes made to the H-1B visa program, particularly the new annual fees.
The ministry expressed concern that the move, in addition to financial losses, could also create a humanitarian crisis for families. "The government has seen reports regarding the proposed restrictions on the US H-1B visa program," said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. "The government has seen reports regarding the proposed restrictions on the US H-1B visa program. The potential implications of this move are being studied by all stakeholders, including Indian industry. Indian industry has already released a preliminary analysis clarifying certain perceptions related to the H-1B program," he said.
He further warned that Trump's move could have repercussions beyond the business sector. He added that all stakeholders, including Indian industry, are studying all aspects of the move and that the move could also lead to a humanitarian crisis due to the disruption it would cause to families.