Slamming the U.S. government’s caller $100,000 H-1B visa fee arsenic a “poorly thought done policy”, U.S. Democrat lawmaker Ami Bera said that some the U.S. Congress and American officials had been caught by astonishment by the determination announced connected Friday (September 19, 2025) by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Mr. Bera, who is portion of a five-member U.S. Congressional delegation invited by the Ministry of External Affairs for a week-long sojourn to Delhi and Mumbai, said helium would sermon the contented during the visit, and relay immoderate of the concerns expressed to Washington. During the visit, the delegation volition conscionable with MEA and Commerce Ministry officials arsenic good arsenic concern and manufacture leaders.
The U.S. Congressional delegation’s sojourn to India comes conscionable arsenic External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal caput to the U.S. this week for talks with their counterparts connected repairing the narration and concluding commercialized negotiations that had been suspended for weeks.
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Bera expressed the anticipation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would besides question to the U.S. and conscionable with Mr. Trump straight to instrumentality ties forward. However, MEA officials did not corroborate immoderate specified question by Mr. Modi. Mr. Bera added that, successful Washington, “all indications” were that Mr. Trump intends to question to India for the Quad Leader’s Summit aboriginal this year.
VIDEO | Member, United States House, Representative Ami Bera connected H-1B visa interest bid says, "Announcement volition wounded US companies arsenic workers payment USA's system and enactment tech sector; whitethorn promote companies to grow operations successful India."
(Full video disposable connected PTI Videos –… pic.twitter.com/QyTHImoCI7
‘May person other effect’
“I deliberation this was a poorly thought done policy… Much little fees of $1,000 to $4,000 were overmuch much appropriate,” Mr. Bera said, erstwhile asked astir the enforcement bid passed by Mr. Trump that imposes a $100,000 interest per H-1B visa connected U.S. companies that usage it to prosecute non-Americans. About 71% of H-1B visas are granted to Indians astatine present, and they are apt to beryllium the worst deed by the rule.
“I deliberation this is going to wounded American tech companies, and successful fact, it whitethorn person the other effect — alternatively of creating American jobs, a tech institution mightiness say, ‘Let maine conscionable grow my beingness successful Hyderabad oregon Bangalore’, said Mr. Bera, an Indian-American person who has represented the 6th Congressional District successful California since 2013, and is simply a subordinate of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Strained ties
The invitation to the delegation led by Mr. Bera is portion of the Modi government’s outreach to American lawmakers amidst a fig of setbacks to the India-U.S. relationship. Over the past fewer months, ties person been strained successful respective spheres, from Mr. Trump’s determination to enforce 50% tariffs connected Indian goods, including penalties connected India’s import of Russian lipid and threats of 100% connected each BRICS members; his repeated assertion that helium mediated the India-Pakistan ceasefire, that India denied; the U.S.’s attraction of Indian deportees; its crackdown connected visas issued, and cancellation of pupil visas; arsenic good arsenic the latest circular of sanctions planned for those engaged successful Iran’s Chabahar larboard project.
In addition, U.S. Congressmen adjacent to the U.S. President person introduced a fig of legislations, proposing “500% tariffs” connected each countries that bargain Russian lipid and prosecute with it economically, and the India Shrimp Act, which proposes to levy 10% to 40% much tariffs connected Indian shrimp exports to the U.S.
“Certainly successful the 12 years that I’ve been successful Congress, this is astir apt a debased point,” Mr. Bera acknowledged, but insisted that members of the U.S. Congress each “recognise the value of the India relationship”.
Racism successful the MAGA-verse
Expressing astonishment astatine the downturn successful ties, helium said that some lawmakers and manufacture leaders should “step up” and talk to the U.S. President regarding their concerns astir policies similar the H-1B visa interest that are hurting the relationship. Much of the blasted lies with Mr. Trump’s advisors, specified arsenic White House Trade Counsellor Peter Navarro and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who had not served successful the medication before, helium suggested, noting that the medication has already needed to rotation backmost immoderate of the measures announced connected Friday.
In addition, Mr. Bera pointed to racism successful the “MAGA-verse” oregon amongst Trump supporters, but said that this did not pertain to astir Americans.
“I don’t cognize that it’s conscionable targeted against Indian Americans, due to the fact that you spot it successful targeting of different taste minorities arsenic well. In the agelong word 21st Century, we each tendency for our children, our grandchildren, bid and prosperity. I would accidental each of america spot India arsenic a large portion of this strategy,” helium added.
