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A bipartisan group of 19 members of the US House of Representatives has formally urged President Donald Trump to reconsider his sweeping crackdown on the H‑1B visa programme, highlighting the far-reaching negative implications for the US–India strategic partnership. In a letter dated October 8, 2025, the lawmakers expressed concern that the abrupt escalation of visa costs and stricter eligibility requirements could undermine the “critical partnership” between the United States and India. They warned that the changes threaten not only high-skilled mobility but also broader people-to-people ties, innovation networks, and economic cooperation that have long underpinned the bilateral relationship. The plea follows sweeping action by the Trump administration, which earlier this year announced a historic increase in the visa filing fee for new H-1B applicants to US $100,000 per year. The administration argued the changes were necessary to protect American jobs and reduce abuse of the visa system. Critics argue the move disproportionately affects Indian nationals who account for roughly 70 per cent of the beneficiaries and could prompt major US firms to relocate operations, diminish US competitiveness, and strain the bilateral technology and services ecosystem. In their letter, the lawmakers urged President Trump to weigh the wider geopolitical cost of a weakened US–India alliance, pointing to the risk of strategic drift at a time when technology, defence, and supply-chain cooperation are increasingly vital. They contended that the visa overhaul, if left unaddressed, could push skilled talent and investment away from the US and bolster India’s appeal as an alternative hub. As the administration’s visa policy reset unfolds, industry observers and foreign-policy analysts alike will be monitoring whether the White House responds to these congressional concerns or presses ahead, potentially reshaping a key pillar of the US–India engagement. With Inputs from PTI.
