'Indians In Germany Earn More': Envoy's Migration Call Amid H-1B Visa Row

As the United States' H-1B visa program faces turmoil amid Team Trump's substantial $100,000 fee increase, Germany is strategically positioning itself to attract Indian talent. German Ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann, has extended a welcoming invitation to "highly skilled Indians" to explore career opportunities in Germany's thriving IT, management, science, and technology sectors.

"Here is my call to all highly skilled Indians. Germany stands out with its stable migration policies, and with great job opportunities for Indians in IT, management, science and tech," Ackermann stated on X this Tuesday.

In an accompanying video, the ambassador highlighted a remarkable economic fact: Indians represent one of the highest-earning demographic groups in Germany.

"The average Indian working in Germany earns more than the average German working in Germany. Because a high salary means Indians are contributing big time to our society and our welfare. We believe in hard work and giving the best jobs to the best people," the ambassador emphasized.

In what appeared to be a subtle criticism of the fluctuating U.S. immigration policies under President Donald Trump's administration, Ambassador Ackermann drew an apt comparison between German migration rules and German automobiles, which are globally renowned for their exceptional reliability.

"Our migration policy works a bit like a German car. It's reliable, it is modern, it is predictable. It will go in a straight line with no zigzags. And you don't have to fear a full break at the top speed," Ackermann explained, emphasizing that Germany maintains policy stability without implementing abrupt fundamental changes overnight.

The ambassador's timely message follows the recent U.S. decision to increase its skilled worker visa (H-1B) fee by nearly 60 percent to $100,000 (approximately Rs 88 lakh). This substantial hike means U.S.-based companies seeking to employ foreign professionals for onsite positions must pay this amount to the U.S. government, creating significant barriers to international recruitment.

Indian immigrants have constituted the majority of H-1B program recipients in recent years—representing over 70 percent—making them particularly vulnerable to the impacts of this policy change.