The Forum of IT professionals (ForIT) expresses its opposition to the hike of application fee for H-1B, L-1B visas announced recently by the US administration. This move would hit badly on Indian IT firms, which are only recovering from the impact of recession, during which a significant portion of the work force was rendered jobless. This increase in visa fees will increase the total expenditure of IT firms by around 200-250 million dollars a year. For an IT professional working in the industry, this will hit his career opportunities as the IT firms may cut down on the number of people to be sent to On-site, to cut the over-all costs of the company.

    It is said that the funds raised from the increase of Visa fees will be used to strengthen the security along US-Mexico border, which is purely a domestic issue of United States. Out of the 600 million dollars required for this project, around 550 millions dollars will be raised from the hike of Visa fees. Burdening a developing nation like India for the domestic expenditure of United States is totally unreasonable.

    It has to be understood that this move is nothing but a protectionist measure with the motive to cut down outsourcing of jobs. ForIT urges the Government of India to oppose this decision by contesting it in the WTO. If need, it must threaten similar hike in visa fee for US nationals coming into India for business purposes. Given the importance of a robust IT sector to our economy, our Government must take up this issue seriously and try to resolve it urgently.

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