warning of “potential disruptions for families” affected by the policy. In a statement on Saturday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said New Delhi hopes the disruptions can be “addressed suitably” by the authorities in the US, adding that the full implications of the policy are being studied by the government. A White House official said on Saturday that the one-time fee will only apply to new visas and not to current visa holders or renewals. H-1B visas allow companies to sponsor foreign workers with specialised skills – such as scientists, engineers, and computer programmers – to work in the US, initially for three years, but extendable to six years. India was the largest beneficiary of H-1B visas last year, accounting for 71 percent of approved applicants. Earlier on Saturday, India’s leading trade body Nasscom said the one-day timeline for implementing the H-1B visa fee was a matter of “concern”. Nasscom, representing India’s $283bn IT and business process outsourcing industry, said the policy’s abrupt rollout would affect Indian nationals and disrupt the continuity of ongoing onshore projects for the country’s technology services firms.

The new H-1B measure, which will likely face legal challenges, was announced alongside the introduction of a $1m “gold card” US residency programme. Nasscom said the new policy could have “ripple effects” on the US innovation ecosystem and global job markets, pointing out that for companies, “additional cost will require adjustments”. Nasscom added that policy changes of this scale were best “introduced with adequate transition periods, allowing organisations and individuals to plan effectively and minimize disruption”. (Aljazeera)