Trump’s H-1B Fee Hike Poses Risk to India Remittances, Rupee (1)

US President Donald Trump’s steep hike in H-1B visa fees could hurt India’s services sector, curb remittance inflows, and weigh on the rupee, economists said.

Last week, Trump ordered a sweeping overhaul of the H-1B visa program, mandating a $100,000 application fee aimed at deterring excessive use. India is especially vulnerable to these changes, as roughly 70% of H-1B visa holders in the US are Indian — many employed through Indian IT firms.

Highly skilled Indian migrants in wealthy nations are a vital source of cash for the country, steadily increasing the money they send home over the years. ...