The serious impact of Donald Trump’s increase in H-1B visa fees is starting to be seen in India, the biggest side effect of which is being seen on Indian marriages. As Trump increased the application fee for this visa to 1 lakh dollars (approximately Rs. 88 lakh), the demand for NRI grooms working in America has decreased in India. According to a report, families who were looking for NRI spouses for their children are now changing their wedding plans due to the fear of job crisis for such NRIs due to Trump’s policies.
Donald Trump has made a major change in the H-1B visa rules, under which a charge of 1 lakh dollars (approximately Rs. 88.10 lakh) will now be applicable per application for new entry or re-entry of foreign employees by American companies.
The H-1B visa is an American non-resident visa that allows foreigners to work in specialized fields such as technology, engineering, and medical. This visa bomb is a major blow to India, as 71% of the total approved beneficiaries of H-1B visas in fiscal year 2024 were Indians.
However, the White House has clarified that this fee will only apply to new applications and will not apply to existing visa holders or renewals.
Despite the White House’s clarification, the impact of Trump’s H-1B visa fee hike rule is being seen in India, especially in weddings. Families who wanted to get their children married to NRIs are now afraid. According to a Reuters report, due to the US’s strict immigration policies and visa fee hike, Indian families have become less eager to get married to citizens living in the US, meaning the demand for NRI grooms has decreased.
