U.S. Visa Fee Hike Hits Indian Tech Talent

0:00It's April 5th. You're listening to Dallas News today, AI-powered local news. Hyderabad, India's tech hotspot, is losing its top talent to a new US visa hurdle. The Trump administration just slapped a $100,000 fee on fresh H1B applications for skilled workers, announced back in September, 2025. That's a huge jump from the old costs of $1,700 to $4,500, all aimed at shielding American jobs. White House officials say this protects local workers, but it's hitting Indian tech pros hard, since they make up over 70% of H1B. Holders last year. Places like Amazon and Hyderabad used to be launchpads to the states, but now that pipelines clogged. Workers there are gutted guys dreaming of. US gigs are bailing on those plans. One developer ditched his Amazon role for Canada, saying no employer will cough up that cash. Immigration experts call it America's big mistake, arguing you can't just whip up that kind of brainpower at home.

1:04Even Trump admitted on Fox News last fall that the US lacks certain skills and needs the import talent. Meanwhile, Canada, Australia, and others are rolling out the red carpet with simpler visas to snag these pros. This shift could spark a tech boom right in India, as talent states put in bills there, slowing down US innovation in the long run.