‘Shot in the foot’ Indians are outraged over Trump’s H-1B move

搬起石头砸自己的脚：印度人对特朗普 H-1B 签证新政怒不可遏

New $100,000 fee for work visa applications shocks Indian families, but the true impact may hit the US economy hard

工作签证申请费飙升至 10 万美元震惊印度家庭，但真正受重创的可能是美国经济

https://www.rt.com/india/625140-my-american-dream-is-dying/

Families rushed off flights from New York to New Delhi. Ticket prices for India–US routes soared overnight. WhatsApp calls buzzed with panic as Indian professionals in America tried to make sense of what had just happened.

从纽约飞往新德里的航班挤满匆忙返程的家庭。印美航线机票价格一夜暴涨。当在美印度专业人士试图理解突发新政时，恐慌情绪通过 WhatsApp 通话迅速蔓延。

When US President Donald Trump announced a staggering $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications, the shock rippled instantly through Indian communities on both sides of the ocean. For many, the American dream they had spent years building seemed to collapse in a single press release.

当美国总统唐纳德·特朗普宣布对新的 H-1B 签证申请收取高达 10 万美元费用时，这一冲击波立即在大洋两岸的印度社群中引发震荡。对许多人而言，他们多年构建的美国梦仿佛在一纸公告中轰然崩塌。

One of them was Suman (name changed), 39, a healthcare worker in New York. After three years of living apart from her husband and sending money home to support her elderly parents and sister, she sat in her apartment staring at her phone in disbelief.

39 岁的纽约医护人员苏曼（化名）就是其中一员。在与丈夫分居三年、不断汇款供养年迈父母和妹妹的日子里，她坐在公寓里难以置信地盯着手机。

“I am on a H-1B visa, and I have been so stressed since then that my life seems like it will go upside down,” Suman told RT over a WhatsApp call from her apartment in New York.

"我持有 H-1B 签证，从那以后压力巨大，感觉生活即将天翻地覆，"苏曼在纽约公寓里通过 WhatsApp 电话告诉今日俄罗斯。

“I’ve been working here for the last eight years, and I have taken loans and mortgages. Everything felt like it was coming crashing down on me.”

"过去八年我在这里工作，背负着各种贷款和抵押。突然间一切都像要压垮我。"

’Everything feels uncertain now’

现在一切都充满不确定性

For families across India, Trump’s sudden move upended their daily life.

对全印度各地的家庭而言，特朗普的突然举措彻底打乱了他们的日常生活。

Muhammad Anas, 62, from the southern state of Telangana, said his family was devastated.

来自特伦甘纳邦南部的 62 岁老人穆罕默德·阿纳斯表示，他的家庭因此陷入绝望。

“My daughter is working in the US and teaches social science at a college. She is on a H-1B visa. We all felt very distressed, and she was crying on the call. She has two children, and her husband is pursuing a PhD there. The whole family feels the pain of what is going on,” he told RT. “The Indian government should take up the case with the US so that our children have some kind of certainty.”

"我女儿在美国工作，在一所大学教授社会科学。她持有 H-1B 签证。我们都感到非常痛苦，她在电话里哭了。她有两个孩子，丈夫正在那边攻读博士学位。全家人都为正在发生的事情感到痛心，"他告诉 RT。"印度政府应该向美国提出交涉，让我们的孩子能获得某种确定性。"

Back in India, the announcement also rattled young professionals who had been preparing for years to build their lives in America.

在印度国内，这一公告也动摇了那些多年来为在美国生活而准备的年轻专业人士。

Kazim Ahmad, 27, a graduate of a premier engineering college in West Bengal, said he was crushed.

27 岁的 Kazim Ahmad 是西孟加拉邦一所顶尖工程学院的毕业生，他说自己备受打击。

“I spent two years getting certified and interviewing for US companies. I feel very disheartened and devastated. It seems my American dream is dying now,” Ahmad said.

"我花了两年的时间获得认证并参加美国公司的面试。我感到非常沮丧和绝望。现在看来，我的美国梦正在破灭，"Ahmad 说道。

“I come from a very poor family, and my state is also very poor. Going to the US could have stepped my family out of poverty and helped me progress, but now, I do not think aspirants have an option to move to the US.”

"我出身于一个非常贫困的家庭，家乡也很落后。原本去美国能让我全家摆脱贫困，助我实现人生进阶，但现在看来，赴美追梦者已无路可走。"

Another hopeful, Vipul Kumar, echoed the frustration.

另一位怀揣梦想的维普尔·库马尔同样表达了沮丧。

“I spent my money and time on exams. I planned my life around the opportunities in the US. I feel very lost now.”

"我投入了金钱和时间备考，整个人生规划都围绕着美国机遇展开。现在只觉得前路茫茫。"

Even those already working in America were forced to reconsider their plans.

就连已经在美国工作的人也不得不重新考虑自己的计划。

Inder Jeet, 35, from Haryana and an employee of a global tech giant, said his company warned him not to travel.

来自哈里亚纳邦的 35 岁伊恩德·吉特是一家全球科技巨头的员工，他表示公司警告他不要出行。

“I was planning to go home next week and meet my family after two years, but now my company has informed us not to travel. I am heartbroken, but I am also thinking about what comes next for us,” he added.

“我本计划下周回家，时隔两年与家人团聚，但现在公司通知我们不要出行。我心都碎了，但也在考虑我们接下来该怎么办。”他补充道。

“The families on H-1B are enduring a nightmare. Some have just bought a home on a mortgage, and some have high loans to pay; everyone has a story.”

"H-1B 签证持有者的家庭正在经历一场噩梦。有人刚贷款买了房子，有人背负着高额债务；每个人都有自己的故事。"

For Suman in New York, the fear goes beyond bills and mortgages.

对于身在纽约的苏曼而言，这种恐惧远不止账单和房贷这么简单。

“We do not know what tougher measures this administration is coming out with for migrants who are really working hard in this country to be part of it. To be part of the American dream,” she said, admitting she now questions whether it is wise to build a future in the US “There are a lot of questions in my mind.”

"我们不知道本届政府还会对在这片土地上辛勤工作、渴望融入美国梦的移民出台什么更严苛的政策，"她坦言自己如今开始质疑在美国构建未来是否明智，"我脑海中盘旋着太多疑问。"

From Washington’s clarifications to India’s alarm

从华盛顿的澄清到印度的恐慌

The announcement left companies and employees scrambling. Within hours, several American tech giants warned their Indian staff not to leave the country and for those already abroad to return as quickly as possible. Rumors spread across airports, WhatsApp groups, and workplaces, fueling fears that even existing visa holders might be locked out.

这一公告让企业和员工措手不及。数小时内，多家美国科技巨头警告其印度员工不要离开美国，并敦促已在海外的员工尽快返回。机场、WhatsApp 群组和工作场所谣言四起，人们担心连现有签证持有者也可能被拒之门外。

It wasn’t until the next day that the administration sought to calm the chaos. The White House clarified that the new $100,000 fee would apply only to fresh H-1B applications, not renewals or extensions. Current visa holders, officials said, would not be affected. At the same time, the Trump administration doubled down on its broader policy shift. A new proposal outlined changes to the H-1B lottery that would prioritize higher salaries and “top talent,” with the stated goal of protecting American workers from “unfair wage competition from foreign workers.”

直到次日，美国政府才试图平息混乱。白宫澄清称，10 万美元的新费用仅适用于首次 H-1B 申请，不涉及续签或延期。官员表示现有签证持有者不会受影响。与此同时，特朗普政府强化了其更广泛的政策转向。新提案概述了 H-1B 抽签制度的改革方向——将优先考虑高薪和"顶尖人才"，声称旨在保护美国工人免受"外籍劳工不公平的工资竞争"。

New Delhi was quick to sound the alarm. India’s Ministry of External Affairs described the sudden shift as more than an economic measure – calling it a potential “humanitarian crisis.”

新德里方面迅速拉响警报。印度外交部称这一突然转变不仅是经济措施，更可能引发"人道主义危机"。

“This measure is likely to have humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused to families. Government hopes that these disruptions can be addressed suitably by the US authorities,” said Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the ministry.

外交部发言人兰迪尔·贾伊斯瓦尔表示："这项措施可能因对家庭造成的干扰而带来人道主义后果。政府希望美国当局能够妥善解决这些问题。"

He added that the mobility of skilled talent had contributed enormously to technology development, innovation, and economic growth in both countries. “Policymakers will therefore assess recent steps considering mutual benefits, which include strong people-to-people ties between the countries.”

他还指出，技术人才的流动为两国的技术发展、创新和经济增长做出了巨大贡献。"因此，政策制定者将权衡近期举措时，会考量包括两国间牢固人文纽带在内的共同利益。"

For Indians in the US, many say it is not about the job alone, but about the years of hard work they have put into building their lives in a country where they are now staring at an uncertain future. Earlier, Trump imposed 25% tariffs on Indian goods exported to the US, plus additional duties as a penalty for trading with Russia – making some exports completely unviable.

对于在美国的印度人来说，许多人表示这不仅关乎工作，更关乎他们多年来在这个国家努力建立生活的艰辛付出——而如今他们正面临着一个不确定的未来。此前，特朗普对印度出口到美国的商品征收了 25%的关税，并因印度与俄罗斯贸易而加征惩罚性关税，导致部分出口完全无法进行。

A double-edged outcome  

双刃剑效应

Industry experts in India were more blunt. Mohandas Pai, former chief financial officer of Infosys, warned that Trump had “shot himself in the foot.”

印度行业专家的言辞更为直白。印孚瑟斯前首席财务官莫汉达斯·派警告称，特朗普此举是"搬起石头砸自己的脚"。

“These companies are among the most valuable assets in the US and the foundation of its global dominance. They are heavily reliant on high-quality H-1B talent from around the world,” Pai said, adding that the sharp fee hike would freeze fresh demand and push companies to shift jobs offshore.

"这些公司是美国最宝贵的资产之一，也是其全球主导地位的基石。它们高度依赖来自世界各地的高质量 H-1B 人才，"派表示，并补充说大幅提高费用将冻结新增需求，迫使企业将工作岗位转移到海外。

Pai estimated that the impact on India itself will be minimal, since the fee hike applies only to new applications. He pointed out that there is already a substantial stock of H-1B employees in the US, and most Indian IT firms now maintain large local (American) teams in their US development centers. “Over the past five years, they have undertaken risk mitigation measures,” he explained. He added that the visa restrictions would likely accelerate the growth of Global Capability Centers (GCCs) in India. “The multinational corporations respond to the scarcity of work visas by offshoring more operations.”

派伊估计，此举对印度本土影响甚微，因为费用上调仅适用于新申请者。他指出，美国已积存大量 H-1B 雇员，且多数印度 IT 公司如今在其美国开发中心都保有大规模本土（美国）团队。"过去五年间，他们已采取风险缓释措施，"他解释道。他补充说，签证限制可能会加速印度全球能力中心（GCC）的发展。"跨国公司通过将更多业务离岸化来应对工作签证的稀缺性。"

India’s Sherpa for its G20 presidency in 2023, Amitabh Kant, slammed Trump’s move. He stressed that the $100,000 H-1B fee will choke US innovation and turbocharge India’s.

印度 2023 年 G20 峰会事务协调人阿米塔布·康特强烈抨击了特朗普这一举措。他强调，10 万美元的 H-1B 签证费用将扼杀美国的创新力，同时为印度注入强劲动力。

“India’s finest doctors, engineers, scientists, innovators have an opportunity to contribute to India’s growth and progress towards Viksit Bharat,” he tweeted.

"印度最优秀的医生、工程师、科学家和创新者现在有机会为印度的发展贡献力量，共同推动'发达印度'愿景实现。"他在推文中写道。

Officials in India’s IT hubs also suggested the move could prove a long-term advantage for the country. Jayesh Ranjan, special chief secretary in Telangana, called it “a game changer.”

印度 IT 中心官员也表示，此举可能对该国带来长期优势。泰伦加纳邦特别首席秘书贾耶什·兰詹称其为"改变游戏规则之举"。

“More skilled professionals may now choose to stay or return to India, which will fuel domestic innovation, startups and economic growth, and help transform India into a global technology hub. This will mainly affect American companies and some Indian youths who prefer going to the US. With this, many will be motivated to stay back, and this reverse brain drain will strengthen economic opportunities, competitive wages and broader reforms,” the official told The New Indian Express.

"更多技术人才现在可能选择留在或返回印度，这将推动国内创新、初创企业发展和经济增长，助力印度转型为全球科技中心。此举主要将影响美国公司和部分偏爱赴美的印度青年。如此一来，许多人将受到激励留在本土，这种人才回流将强化经济机遇、具有竞争力的薪资水平以及更广泛的结构改革，"这位官员向《新印度快报》表示。

Between broken dreams and new beginnings

在破碎的梦想与新的开始之间

For thousands of Indian families in the US, the new visa fee feels like a nightmare – mortgages, student loans, and years of sacrifice suddenly overshadowed by political uncertainty. As one H-1B worker put it: “Everyone has a story – a house just bought, a loan to repay, parents to support. Now everything is in doubt.”

对于数千个在美印度家庭而言，新的签证费用犹如噩梦——抵押贷款、学生贷款和多年的牺牲突然被政治不确定性蒙上阴影。正如一位 H-1B 工作者所言："家家有本难念的经——刚买的房子、待还的贷款、需要赡养的父母。如今一切都成了未知数。"

Yet industry observers in India say the broader impact could be more complex. Ajay Bagga, a financial markets commentator, noted that the policy might reduce India’s long-running brain drain, forcing both government and industry to find ways to absorb and productively employ highly skilled talent at home.

但印度业内观察人士表示，更广泛的影响可能更为复杂。金融市场评论员阿贾伊·巴加指出，这项政策或许会减少印度长期存在的人才外流现象，迫使政府和产业界共同寻求在国内吸纳高技能人才并实现高效就业的途径。

“Brain drain will reduce, and India will have to find other avenues or productively use these people. This will be an obxtive for the government too,” he told ANI news agency.

他告诉亚洲国际新闻社：“人才外流将减少，印度将不得不寻找其他途径或高效利用这些人才。这也将成为政府的一个目标。”

Others predict neighboring countries will benefit first. Canada and the UK, both eager for high-skilled migrants, could see a surge in applications as US doors narrow. Still, many in India believe the long-term opportunity lies at home – with more engineers, doctors, and innovators choosing to stay, fueling startups and strengthening the country’s own technology ecosystem.

还有人预测邻国将率先受益。随着美国大门的收窄，对高技术移民求贤若渴的加拿大和英国可能会迎来申请激增。不过，许多印度人相信长远机遇仍在本土——更多工程师、医生和创新者选择留下，为初创企业注入活力，并强化本国科技生态体系。

In the short term, though, the uncertainty remains crushing. For families like Suman’s, it isn’t just about fees or policy. It’s about watching years of effort and sacrifice suddenly hang in the balance – and wondering whether the American dream is still worth chasing.

然而短期内，不确定性依然令人窒息。对苏曼这样的家庭而言，这不仅仅是学费或政策的问题。而是眼看着多年的努力与牺牲突然悬于一线——不禁怀疑美国梦是否依然值得追逐。

By Sumitra Bahtti, a journalist based in India

苏米特拉·巴蒂，驻印度记者