IIT-Madras director Kamakoti Veezhinathan has described the $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications, announced by US President Donald Trump, as a &ldquo;blessing in disguise.&rdquo; He believes the move could encourage talented students to remain in India, supporting local research and innovation.
Veezhinathan noted that the policy might dissuade students from pursuing opportunities in the US, allowing India to retain more of its skilled workforce. He emphasised that the country now has a significant opportunity to develop research capabilities domestically, with a majority of IIT-Madras students continuing their education and work within India.
President Trump justified the fee hike by claiming the H-1B program had been misused to replace American workers with lower-paid foreign labour, limiting access to highly skilled foreign workers unless accompanied by the $100,000 payment.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said it is reviewing the implications of the proposed restrictions, while industry groups have begun preliminary analyses to understand the potential impact on Indian talent and employment opportunities abroad.
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H-1B visa fee hike may encourage students to stay in India, boosting domestic research

IIT-Madras Chief Sees H-1B Fee Hike as Opportunity

H-1B visa fee hike may encourage students to stay in India, boosting domestic research

September 23, 2025 | 18:47 IST