Trump's H-1B Fee Hike A Win For Indian Innovation, Says IIT-Madras Director

According to IIT-Madras Director Kamakoti Veezhinathan, the substantial H-1B visa fee increase will help retain talented individuals within India.

IIT-Madras Director Kamakoti Veezhinathan has expressed support for President Donald Trump's implementation of a $100,000 fee for each new H-1B visa application, characterizing it as an unexpected opportunity for India. He suggests this significant cost increase will motivate skilled Indian academics and professionals to remain in their home country, subsequently enhancing domestic research capabilities and innovation growth. Veezhinathan highlighted that the tendency to relocate to the United States has already been diminishing, and this policy shift presents India with an opportunity to strengthen its scientific infrastructure locally.

"I view this as an unexpected advantage, and we should be grateful to President Trump for it. We must fully capitalize on this opportunity..." Veezhinathan stated in an interview with ANI.

Watch the video here:

#WATCH | Chennai | On impact H-1B visa fee hike, Director, IIT-Madras, Kamakoti Veezhinathan says, "I see this as a blessing in disguise and we must thank President Trump for it. We must take full advantage of this..."

"The impact is two-fold -one, the students who go from here… pic.twitter.com/NhObnwVzFI

— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2025

Elaborating on his perspective, the director explained, "The impact has two dimensions: first, students who leave India with aspirations of working abroad may now reconsider, and as the director of IIT-Madras, I am pleased they will remain in India."

"I believe our country offers excellent research opportunities... This is a moment when students who might have gone to the US can stay and make contributions here. Over the past 5 years at IIT-M, merely 5% of our community is located outside India. The enthusiasm for American relocation has significantly decreased..." he further remarked.