Visa hike sends shockwaves across Kerala firms

The sharp rise in the fee for obtaining an H-1B visa is causing alarm in Kerala's information technology sector, with many firms bracing for elevated costs and potential disruption in staffing patterns.

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Leaders of major tech companies in Kerala, especially those specialising in fintech, business applications, and software exporting, are evaluating how this will upend their operational models.

Earlier, many of these firms depended on sending staff overseas for client-on-site work in the United States under the H-1B programme.

With the new fee, only new visa applications filed from outside the U. S. will require payment, while renewals and current visa holders are exempt.