An Emirates flight from San Francisco to India was delayed for three hours after several Indian passengers chose to deboard. The panic followed US President Donald Trump’s order imposing a $100,000 fee on H-1B visas. Videos from inside the plane showed passengers standing in the aisles, some unsure whether to travel. The captain told travellers they could leave if they wished. Social media posts described the scene as “complete chaos.” Meanwhile, Meta and Microsoft urged H-1B workers not to leave the US, warning of possible re-entry issues. The White House later clarified the fee was a one-time charge for new applicants.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. This was their first top-level meeting since President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods and raised H-1B visa fees to $100,000. The talks focused on trade and visa concerns. India and the US are now working toward a trade agreement, with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal leading negotiations in Washington. Both sides have also resumed discussions on a Bilateral Investment Treaty. Trump recently said he was confident the two countries would reach a deal. (PC: X/ANI)

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said the $100,000 fee on H-1B visas announced by US President Donald Trump may hurt in the short term but could benefit India later. “Let’s not be doomsayers about this H-1B thing… let’s not allow ourselves to constantly feel that we’re the victims,” he told The Wire. Tharoor argued US firms may move jobs to India and Europe since America lacks enough engineers. He called Trump “a law unto himself” but said ties with India could still improve. While Congress leaders criticised PM Modi, Tharoor praised the government’s “measured and sensible” response. (PC: Shahbaz Khan/PTI Photo)

The U.S. decision to impose a hefty $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications is prompting Indian firms and the government to scale up Global Capability Centres (GCCs) domestically. With the traditional route of sending tech and consulting staff into the U.S. now more expensive, companies are accelerating investment in India-based delivery hubs to handle critical roles. The Indian IT Ministry is coordinating with its embassy in Washington and ramping up infrastructure for GCCs that can absorb returning talent. This shift seeks to mitigate disruption to firms’ business models caused by visa policy changes.   

India's $283 billion IT industry faces a major overhaul after President Trump's $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas. With 57% of revenue from the U.S. and 71% of H-1B beneficiaries last year being Indian, the policy threatens long-standing business models. Firms like TCS, Infosys, and Wipro must now adjust by reducing onshore rotations, increasing offshore delivery, and hiring more U.S. citizens. The move may also accelerate the adoption of AI and automation to mitigate reliance on foreign talent. Legal challenges are anticipated, and the policy could impact global delivery models and outsourcing strategies. (PC: Reuters)  

The US is facing international fallout after imposing a USD 100,000 H-1B visa fee, a move that STEM experts say will push global talent—especially from India—toward China. Starting October 1, China rolls out its K-visa, a fast-track pathway for scientists, engineers, and researchers, with fewer entry barriers—no need for domestic sponsorship, and easier collaboration. Analysts call the US fee hike a strategic misstep, arguing it hands over its competitive edge in innovation to China. The development places pressure on India to retain its STEM talent and strengthen research infrastructure. (PC: PTI)

India's $245 billion IT sector faces major disruption as Trump's new $100,000 H-1B visa fee takes effect. The policy threatens to dismantle decades-old business models that built Tamil Nadu and Karnataka into global IT powerhouses. An estimated 40-50% of mid-level engineers in large firms have worked on H-1B visas or aspire to. While White House clarified existing visa holders aren't affected, the fee creates two-tiered system where large corporations may absorb costs while smaller firms face impossible calculations. Students and middle-class families planning US education struggle with additional financial burdens. Some industry veterans predict reverse migration and accelerated offshore delivery, potentially benefiting India's domestic tech ecosystem. (PC: Hindustan Times)

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu has encouraged Indian tech professionals holding H-1B visas in the US to return home, following a steep increase in H-1B visa fees. He drew parallels with the Partition, saying the challenge of uprooting and rebuilding has happened before—and that India today offers new opportunities. Vembu acknowledged that returning will require effort and time—perhaps up to five years—but said this could make individuals “stronger.” He urged people not to live in fear, calling the visa fee hike a potential turning point that could benefit India’s tech ecosystem. (PC: India Today)  

An Indian H-1B visa holder, Rohan Mehta (name changed), spent $8,000 on urgent flights to return to the US before a new visa fee deadline. President Donald Trump signed an order imposing a one-time $100,000 fee on new skilled worker visa applications. Immigration lawyers advised workers abroad to return quickly, fearing they might not re-enter. The White House later clarified that current visa holders would not be affected, but the panic had already cost many thousands. Indians make up over 70% of H-1B visas. Mehta called the ordeal “traumatic,” saying he now feels unwanted in the US. (PC: BBC)

A White House official provided crucial relief to Indian H-1B visa holders, clarifying that Trump's new $100,000 visa fee applies only to new applicants, not existing holders. The announcement came after widespread panic following Trump's bombshell policy change raising fees from $2,000-$5,000 to $100,000, effective September 21, 2025. Tech giants like Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google had advised employees not to travel, fearing entry denial. The official assured that current visa holders visiting India "don't need to rush back" or pay the hefty fee. India's MEA expressed concerns about humanitarian consequences and family disruptions, while advising embassies to assist Indians traveling back to the US within 24 hours. (PC: The Times Of India & Reuters)