"Aao, Ab Laut Chalen": Edelweiss CEO Radhika Gupta To Indians In US After H-1B Visa Fee Hike

Radhika Gupta addressed the situation of Indian students in the US following H-1B visa fee increases.

Edelweiss AML's Managing Director and CEO Radhika Gupta has expressed that she has no desire to return to the United States "at all." Her comments were made in light of President Trump's recent decision to increase the H-1B visa application fee to $100,000.

In her LinkedIn post, Ms. Gupta reflected on her experiences as a student in the US and addressed current Indian students there. "I was lucky to graduate in 2005 when H-1B regulations were much more favorable in the US. However, conditions rapidly deteriorated during the 2008 financial crisis, leaving many Indian students feeling disoriented, disappointed, and trapped," she shared.

Ms. Gupta is an alumna of the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton School, graduating in 2005 with dual degrees in Computer Science Engineering and Economics. She subsequently worked at McKinsey & Co. as a Business Analyst before joining AQR Capital Management in 2006.

Speaking about the aftermath of the financial crisis, she noted that many students returned to India when visa restrictions tightened, while others eventually made the same decision despite having valid visas. "Some came back home, and years later, even those of us who still held valid visas made the identical choice. Now, we've created fulfilling lives here with extensive professional opportunities and the deeper satisfaction of building in our own nation," she stated.

She emphasized that India now presents greater opportunities than it did when she departed two decades ago. "On a personal level, I wouldn't want to return, at all," she affirmed.

Offering words of encouragement to Indian students abroad, she wrote, "If you're currently on a US campus feeling shaken or disheartened, I understand that feeling. But remember: when one door closes, many others open back home. And India of 2025 is a far more exciting place than India of 2005 ever was. Chin up. Aao, ab laut chalen! (Let's go back.)"

The H-1B visa allows foreign nationals to work in the United States. The US government has recently implemented a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions. The Trump administration explained that this measure, effective for 12 months unless extended, aims to safeguard American jobs and ensure only the "most skilled" workers are employed.

This fee applies exclusively to new applicants. Current H-1B holders will not need to pay this amount for renewals or reentry. The White House has clarified that the charge is a one-time payment, not an annual fee.

According to the directive, H-1B workers cannot enter the US unless their sponsoring employer provides proof of payment. The Departments of State and Homeland Security have been directed to reject petitions that do not include this payment.