'Little afraid of our talent': Piyush Goyal reacts to H-1B visa fee hike; urges NRIs to innovate in India

NEW DELHI: A day after US President Donald Trump imposed a $100,000 fee on H-1B visas, Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal reacted to the development by claiming that the world is "a little afraid of Indian talent".

Goyal shared a video clip from a speech on social media, asserting that "different countries across the world also want to do Free Trade Agreements with India. They want to increase trade with India. They want to improve relations."

"They are also a little afraid of our talent. We have no objection to that either," he added.


He also urged the Indian talent to come to India to innovate and design.

"So we are winners, come what may," he said.


"The growth achieved was 7.8% in the first quarter," he said.

"It beat all economists' expectations, and we will continue to beat them right up to 2047," he added.

This came as Trump issued a new presidential proclamation titled "Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers" that introduces a major overhaul to the H-1B visa programme, imposing a steep USD 100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications, raising fresh questions about whether this is a much-needed correction or a potentially crippling blow to America's tech talent pipeline.

The new fee takes effect from 12.01 am on September 21, 2025, prompting immigration attorneys and companies to advise H-1B holders or their families currently outside the US to return immediately or risk being stranded.

The fee increase represents a massive jump from the current $2,000–5,000 range, sparking concerns over its impact on startups, small businesses, and Indian IT professionals.

Earlier, the government expressed serious concern over a raise in the H-1B visa fee, calling it a potential disruption for skilled Indian professionals and their families in the United States.

In an official statement, the spokesperson said the full implications are being studied, noting that Indian industry has already put out an initial analysis clarifying some perceptions related to the H-1B program.

“Industry in both India and the US has a stake in innovation and creativity and can be expected to consult on the best path forward,” the statement said.

It highlighted that talent mobility has contributed enormously to technology development, innovation, economic growth, competitiveness, and wealth creation in both countries.

“Policymakers will therefore assess recent steps taking into account mutual benefits, which include strong people-to-people ties between the two countries,” the spokesperson added.