The US Government has imposed a heavy fee of 100,000 dollars on applications for H-1B visas.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DIlAByTrPb5c&ved=2ahUKEwi8vPzJg-mPAxXfe2wGHZQKGLkQwqsBegQIahAG&usg=AOvVaw3LNiVcA30Y3Z2EcV3_DSHQ
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/100-000-h-1b-visa-fee-one-time-payment-for-new-applicants-us-white-house-amid-chaos-9315109&ved=2ahUKEwj4jv_j-uiPAxUuxzgGHeTbK2gQFnoECEgQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2NtbENumIzLnEPjlm1ff0M
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/trump-mulls-adding-new-100000-fee-h-1b-visas-bloomberg-news-reports-2025-09-19/&ved=2ahUKEwjGko-j_eiPAxVwwjgGHVD8D-IQ0PADKAB6BAggEAE&usg=AOvVaw0TTrk9O6F7YI-UkDHaUA2A
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/trump-torpedos-h-1b-visa-program-throwing-million-indians-into-turmoil/articleshow/124017958.cms&ved=2ahUKEwja6oLhtumPAxWwRmwGHc0OI44QFnoECCYQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3xCAPyuO2qFakCEcDVVA-t
This has caused consternation among many youth aspiring to go to USA for a better life.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D38Dk3A0nRDo&ved=2ahUKEwj_6J-lhemPAxXZWHADHY8bJQEQwqsBegQIGBAF&usg=AOvVaw0bRnFa0KI-eAk7AUDjoBxU
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/how-trumps-100-000-choke-hold-on-h1-b-visa-hits-indians-the-hardest-101758359956360.html&ved=2ahUKEwj_6J-lhemPAxXZWHADHY8bJQEQFnoECFkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0NiYosxJJcmyA-jLGnFEuv
But in my opinion it is a blessing in disguise for India. Let me explain.
For decades there has been a brain drain from India, our best technical people going to USA instead of serving the Indian people.
The Indian people bear the financial burden of educating our youth, by paying taxes which finances their education right from primary school upto an engineering college ( IIT etc ). And then when they are ready to serve India for its technological development, they are snatched away by America, which does not have to pay anything for their education, and only reaps the harvest by getting our best technical brains for their own industry.
In this way the Americans save all the huge amount of money which they would have otherwise have to spend on their education from primary schools right upto engineering colleges,
Is this fair to the Indian tax payer ? Why should they be burdened by this huge amount of money when they will get nothing in return ? So by prohibiting Indian youth from migrating to USA ( which will be the practical effect of this new US government step, as few can pay this huge fee ) the US government has rendered a blessing in disguise to India, which will not suffer from brain drain any more, and result in economic development of India.
Markandey Katju is an Indian jurist. He was the former judge of Supreme Court of India. He also was chairman of the Press Council of India from 2011 to 2014.
