Rajeev Chandrasekhar on H-1B fee hike: ‘It is not something that is good for the American…’

BJP Kerala State President Rajeev Chandrashekhar has also criticised US President Donald Trump’s decision to increase the H-1B visa fees to $1,00,000. Speaking to news agency ANI, Chandrasekhar said that this decision to the Trump administration could damage America’s own technology ecosystem. For those unaware, last week, the Donald Trump administration announced revision in the application fees for H-1B visa. This decision created a situation of panic and chaos across the tech sector.

Chandrasekhar’s criticism

In an interview with ANI, Chandrasekhar revealed that he himself is an H-1B visa holder and also mentioned that US is undermining its competitiveness by restricting the flow of global talent.


“I don’t believe this is a very smart idea for the American economy, but that is the American prerogative,” he remarked.

“I was a beneficiary of the H-1B visa many years ago. I can certainly tell you that it is not something that is good for the American technology ecosystem because it depends in very large part on Indian talent.”

He also stressed on the fact that innovation is inherently cross-border and both US and India have grown because of the seamless movement of skilled professionals.

India’s position

Chandrasekhar also noted that innovation ecosystem in India has grown significantly and is no longer dependent for opportunities on the US. He also emphasised that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had already underlined the importance of talent mobility in driving global innovation.

“Innovation and technology today is a very cross-border activity, and the success of both the US innovation ecosystem and the Indian innovation ecosystem has come through the seamless movement of talent,” he said.

Why it matters now

The resurfacing of this old post by Elon Musk comes at a crucial time for Indian professionals in the US, who make up nearly three-quarters of H-1B recipients. With the new $100,000 fee, the economics of hiring foreign talent have been upended, sparking fears of layoffs, relocations, and a potential reverse migration back to India.

Musk’s past words — contrasting with his more recent criticisms of the program as “broken” — highlight the tensions between business needs, political rhetoric, and immigration realities.