H1B Visa’s Side Effect! The effect of the H1B Visa fee hike has now become visible in India(BHARAT). Surprisingly, the biggest side effect of the decision has been seen in India(BHARAT)n marriages. When Doland Trump announced that the US government had increased the H1B Visa fee to USD 1,00,000 (approx Rs 88 lakh), the demand for NRI grooms in the country decreased. As per a report by Aajtak, India(BHARAT)n families who are searching for an international partner for their daughters are now conscious about the job jeopardy of such NRIs.

What Changes Trump Has Made In The H1B Visa?

Notably, H-1B visa is a non-resident visa in America, it allows US-based companies to hire foreign workers for sectors like – technology, engineering, medicine, finance and education. Under the new rule, the US companies will have to pay USD1000,00 (approx 88 lakh) on every H1B application for the entry or re-entry of a foreign worker.

How H1B Fee Hike Affecting India(BHARAT)ns?

This decision has majorly affected India(BHARAT) as India(BHARAT)ns constitute the largest number of those working in the US with this visa. Notably, almost 71 percent of the total approved H-1B visa beneficiaries in FY24 were India(BHARAT)ns.

However, Press Secretary Caroline Levitt informed that the fee of USD100,000 will only be applied on new visas and existing H1B visa holders will be exempted from the fee. Furthermore, this fee is not applicable on renewals.

HIGHLIGHTS

• H1B visa fee hiked to USD 1,00,000, affecting India(BHARAT)n professionals.
• Demand for NRI grooms drops as families worry about job insecurity abroad.
• Matchmakers say families postponing weddings with NRI grooms.
• Dating apps add US visa filters to help families.

Why Demand For NRI Grooms Got Affected

The impact of Trump’s H1B visa fee hike decision is being felt in India(BHARAT). The decision has specially impacted those families who are planning to marry their daughters to NRI grooms. As per a report by Reuters, quoting matchmakers, US’s new visa policy has forced India(BHARAT)n families to rethink about NRI grooms. This means that Trump’s visa bomb is reducing the demand for NRI grooms.

According to Vanaja Rao, MD of Quick Marriages, till last year, NRI grooms were the first choice of several families. But now this has decreased due to the decisions taken by the White House. The panic has increased to an extent that Rao, who has been running her business for almost 5 decades, stated that some families are now postponing marriages with NRI grooms.

Matchmaking Service Providers Got Affected

Premium matchmaking app – NotDating – has recently introduced came up with a US visa filter. This filter allows families of the brides to check potential NRI partners based on visa status. The company states that since the launch of this feature in September, around 1,000 NRIs have signed up, of which 60 percent are H-1B visa holders.