Uncertainty for Indians Over H-1B Visa End Call

Chennai: Amidst heightened tariff tensions, a US Congresswoman has called for putting an end to Indian H-1B visas, reigniting the uncertainties among the Indian community in the US. Meanwhile, the US State Department has proposed a bond of up to Rs $15,000 for applicants of business and tourist visas.

US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene in a post on X said: “End Indian H-1B visas replacing American jobs instead.” She was replying to US President Donald Trump’s post accusing India of buying “massive amounts” of Russian oil and reselling much of it on the open market for “big profits.”

Greene’s remarks indicate a larger debate about the need to change visa policies. Indian nationals account for nearly 70 per cent of H-1B visas issued, according to 2024 USCIS data. The H-1B visa programme allows US companies to hire skilled foreign workers in specialised fields such as IT, engineering, finance, and healthcare. It also helps Indian students to seek long-term employment in the US.

Meanwhile, the State Department is proposing a bond of up to $15,000 for applicants for business and tourist visas to enter the United States.

In a notice to be published in the Federal Register, a 12-month long visa bond pilot programme from August 20,2025 will require people from countries deemed to have high overstay rates and deficient internal document security controls to post bonds of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 when they apply for a visa.

“The Department believes these three levels will provide consular officers discretion to require a bond in an amount that is sufficient enough to ensure the alien does not overstay, while taking into account the visa applicant's circumstances,” it said.

The Trump administration has been tightening requirements for visa applicants. Last week, the State Department announced that many visa renewal applicants would have to submit to an additional in-person interview, which was not required earlier.