The H-1B Fee Hike is Closing the Door on Indian Students and the American Dream
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: International Relations (Bilateral relations - India-US); Indian Economy (Indian Diaspora, Remittances, Service Sector Exports, Labour Force); Social Issues (Education, Migration).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 1 (Society): Social empowerment; Effects of globalization on Indian society.
General Studies Paper 2 (International Relations & Social Justice): Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests; The role of Indian diaspora; Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Human Resources.
Key Highlights from the News
The newly imposed H-1B visa fee increase of $100,000 by America will most adversely affect Indian students studying there.
Indians currently constitute the largest foreign student community in America.
Main Reasons:
A large percentage (37%) of new H-1B visa recipients are students who have completed their studies in America and are working on an Optional Practical Training (OPT) work permit.
Over 75% of Indian students study STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects. These are the fields with the highest demand for H-1B visas.
After studying in America with educational loans worth millions of rupees, the opportunity to secure a job there is now diminishing due to this new fee.
This move may discourage Indian students from aspiring to study in America and could potentially curb the "Brain Drain" from India.
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