US Court Blocks Trump's Visa Fee Hike : Trump Faces Setback; H-1B Visa Fee Hike Blocked in the US
The Trump administration has suffered a major setback after a U.S. federal appeals court blocked
Trump Faces Setback; H-1B Visa Fee Hike Blocked in the US
The Trump administration has suffered a major setback after a U.S. federal appeals court blocked its move to impose a $100,000 fee on H-1B visas, which are widely used by highly skilled foreign workers. The First U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston rejected the administration’s request to stay a lower court ruling that had declared the fee increase unlawful.
The lower court had struck down the fee on June 8 in response to a lawsuit filed by attorneys general from 20 Democratic-led states, who argued that the fee amounted to an illegal tax imposed without congressional approval. Upholding that ruling, the appeals court said the Trump administration failed to demonstrate that it had acted within its legal authority.
Why was the fee increased?
The Trump administration announced in September that it would raise the H-1B visa application fee to $100,000. The H-1B programme is widely used by technology companies to hire highly skilled foreign professionals.
Every year, the U.S. issues 65,000 H-1B visas, along with an additional 20,000 visas for foreign workers who have completed higher education in the United States. These visas are generally valid for three to six years.
Before the proposed increase, employers typically paid between $2,000 and $5,000 in application fees, depending on various factors. Trump defended the steep hike by saying it was intended to prevent employers from hiring foreign workers at lower wages at the expense of American jobs.
Administration’s stand
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance had earlier stated that American jobs should go to Americans first and warned that the administration would not allow abuse of visa rules to undermine employment opportunities for U.S. citizens.
However, the higher fee does not apply to foreign nationals already in the United States on student visas who later transition to H-1B status.
Reports suggest that only a small number of employers paid the increased fee after it was announced. The White House has not yet issued an official response to the court’s latest decision.
Significance for Indians
The H-1B visa remains one of the most important pathways for Indian professionals, particularly those working in the IT, engineering, and healthcare sectors, to secure employment in the United States. Indians receive the majority of H-1B visas issued each year.
As a result, any change in the H-1B fee structure has significant implications for India’s technology industry and its skilled workforce abroad.
According to estimates, around 730,000 H-1B visa holders and 550,000 of their family members are currently living in the United States.
ശബരിമല: ഭക്തര് ദര്ശന സമയത്തില് മാറ്റം വരുത്തണമെന്ന് ദേവസ്വം ബോര്ഡ്
തീവ്ര മഴയെ തുടര്ന്ന് പമ്പാ നദിയില് വെള്ളപൊക്കം ഉണ്ടായ പശ്ചാത്തലത്തില് നിറപുത്തരി ചടങ്ങുകള്ക്ക് ശബരിമല നട തുറക്കുന്ന ഓഗസ്റ്റ് 2, 3 തീയതികളില് ശബരിമല ദര്ശനം നടത്താന് തീരുമാനിച്ചിട്ടുള്ള ഭക്തര് കഴിവതും യാത്ര ഒഴിവാക്കണമെന്ന് തിരുവിതാംകൂര് ദേവസ്വം ബോര്ഡ് അറിയിച്ചു.
ഓഗസ്റ്റ് മാസത്തില് തന്നെ ചിങ്ങമാസ പൂജകള്ക്കായും (ഓഗസ്റ്റ് 16 മുതല് 21 വരെയും) ഓണത്തോട് അനുബന്ധിച്ച പൂജകള്ക്കായും (ഓഗസ്റ്റ് 24 മുതല് 28 വരെയും) ശബരിമല നട തുറക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. ഇത് ദര്ശനത്തിനായി ഭക്തര്ക്ക് തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കാവുന്നതാണെന്നും ബോര്ഡ് പറഞ്ഞു. കനത്ത മഴ തുടരുന്നതിനാലും മണ്ണിടിച്ചില് സാധ്യതയുള്ളതിനാലുമാണ് തിരുവിതാംകൂര് ദേവസ്വം ബോര്ഡ് ഭക്തരോട് ഇത്തരത്തില് ഒരു അഭ്യര്ത്ഥന നടത്തിയത്.
English Summary: The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has requested devotees to avoid visiting the Sabarimala temple on August 2 and 3 during the Niraputhari rituals, following severe flooding in the Pamba River caused by heavy rainfall.
