In a bold yet controversial move, US President Donald Trump has imposed a USD 100,000 annual fee on the US employers – tech firms that rely on the affordable skilled workforce outside the US. The decision primarily hits the Indian workforce who form a major chunk of the H1B visa applicants. In the hours following Trump’s signing of the order, Indians in the US on H-1B visas were engulfed in widespread fear, and anxiety.  Many lawmakers in the US called the move reckless and deeply concerning while H-1B visa holders abruptly canceled their travel plans while waiting to board aircraft to the US.

There has been a criticism of the move both in the US and India, raising concerns about devastating effect on IT firms in the US and a potential loss for the skilled Indian workforce. However, it is worth noting that Trump has often raised objections about IT firms in the US exploiting the H1B visa program and India should rather see this move in a positive light as it would prevent some brain drain and hopefully the workforce should commit to build India than lamenting over losing potential employment in the US.