The abrupt move of the US President Donald Trump to charge an extra fee of 100,000 dollars to applications of H-1B visa starting September 21 has brought about a lot of havoc specially in relation to the people of India who constitute about 70 per cent of all H-1B visa applications. The sudden announcement has caused mayhem in the airports, skyrocketing airfare prices and a lot of confusion among the workers and multinational corporations.
Panic at Airports
There are reports of confusion and panic in a number of airports. On receiving the news of the hike in the fee during boarding or during the journey, many Indian H-1B holders opted to get off the flights and this caused serious delays. The anxiety caused by the uncertainty on whether they would ever be able to go back or even to work in the US under the new regulations has caused a ripple of anxiety among skilled workers and their families.
Surge in Airfares
The news produced the immediate ripple effect on the air travel. In hours, the price of tickets along the US-India routes went up. One way ticket New Delhi to New York, which would otherwise cost about Rs37,000, jumped to Rs70,000-Rs80,000, with fares of up to $4,500 being reported. The time of the year has only exacerbated the situation as it is during the Durga Puja festival, when several expatriates usually visit home, already increasing the demand.
Corporate Response
The technology powerhouses in the world like Amazon, Microsoft, and JP Morgan dispatched frantic notices to their employees. Employees already on the US soil were ordered to stay indoors and those in other countries were asked to evacuate at once. Nevertheless, immigration analysts have indicated that because of the time gap and the lengthy distance that people in India will have to cover before arriving in the US, it would be virtually impossible to have all the people in India arrive in the US before the September 21 deadline.
Mounting Criticism
The increase in the fee has attracted the disapproval of not only Indian professionals but also the aviation industry and the opposition leaders in India. Carriers have also been said to profiteer off the crisis by increasing fare prices exponentially, which puts a further strain on the finances of the afflicted employees. The opponents complain that the sudden change in the policy will pose a threat to the stability of the workforce and to worsening relationships between the US and India on the economic front.
Conclusion
The increase of the H-1B fee has quickly developed into a humanitarian and economical crisis as it has thrown thousands of Indian professionals into uncertainty. The move has caught both individuals and corporations in a frenzy with flight disruptions and expensive fares, and no time to adjust.
Month: Current Affairs - September 20, 2025
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