"There was lot of birthday bonhomie, then...": Supriya Shrinate's dig at PM Modi following H1B visa fee hike

Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], September 20 (ANI): Congress leader Supriya Shrinate on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Centre over the US government's decision to impose a USD 100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications, calling it a “huge blow” for India. 

Expressing concerns, Shrinate highlighted that this move will negatively impact remittances in India. 

"...This is a huge blow to India. It is a huge blow to our young people, especially juniors and fresh graduates...We will be deprived of US innovation and production. This will also reduce remittances,” the Congress leader told ANI. 

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing US President Donald Trump’s recent remarks that he shares “very close” relations with India and him, Shrinate said, “There was a lot of birthday bonhomie, and then, in just two days, America launched such a massive attack on India.”

On September 18, US President Trump highlighted his close relationship with India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting their personal connection and recent birthday wishes during a press conference with UK PM Keir Starmer during his visit to the country. 

Speaking at the press conference, he highlighted how he had greeted PM Modi on his birthday and highlighted the good ties between New Delhi and Washington. Trump said, "I'm very close to India. I'm very close to the Prime Minister of India. Spoke to him the other day, wished him a happy birthday. We have a very good relationship. He put out a beautiful statement, too...But I said, I sanctioned them." 

Shrinate further said, “This is a big blow to our Indian industry, our youth, their global placements, and their career prospects and I regret that my Prime Minister is unable to do anything to secure this country's future. America is continuously attacking us."  

These remarks came after US President Donald Trump's new presidential proclamation titled "Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers", imposing a USD 100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications. The measure, effective from September 21, aims to combat what the administration calls widespread abuse of the H-1B programme, particularly by IT outsourcing firms accused of displacing American workers and suppressing wages.

The proclamation argues that the original purpose of H-1B, to bring in highly skilled foreign talent, has been distorted, with the administration claiming that low-wage, entry-level H-1B hires have harmed American graduates and also highlights national security concerns, pointing to investigations into visa fraud and money laundering involving companies that rely heavily on the programme. 

As per the order, employers must now provide proof of payment when filing H-1B petitions, with enforcement overseen by the US Departments of State and Homeland Security. Limited exemptions are available for cases deemed in the national interest. 

This rise in Visa costs are likely to hit the tech cost arbitrage model where Indian software engineers and other talent were working onsite in the US, but could see the rise of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India. (ANI)