H-1B visa fee hike will choke U.S. innovation, push next wave of patents to Indian cities: Amitabh Kant

United States President Donald Trump's decision to raise annual H-1B visa fee to $1,00,000 will choke U.S. innovation and turbocharge India's by pushing the next wave of labs, patents and startups to cities like Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said on Saturday (September 20, 2025).

The Trump administration says this fee is aimed at ensuring that the people being brought into the U.S. are "actually very highly skilled" and do not replace American workers.

"Donald Trump's 100,000 H1-B fee will choke U.S. innovation, and turbocharge India's. By slamming the door on global talent, America pushes the next wave of labs, patents, innovation and startups to Bangalore and Hyderabad, Pune and Gurgaon . India's finest Doctors, engineers, scientists, innovators have an opportunity to contribute to India's growth & progress towards #ViksitBharat. America's loss will be India's gain," he said in a post on X.

In a move that could adversely impact Indian professionals on visas in the U.S., Trump on Friday (September 19) signed a proclamation that will raise the fee for H-1B visas to a staggering $1,00,000 annually, the latest in the administration's efforts to crack down on immigration.

The move is aimed at protecting American workers while ensuring that companies have a pathway to hire truly extraordinary people and bring them to the U.S. Companies pay to sponsor H-1B applicants.