donald trump has dropped a nuclear bomb on the indian middle-class dream: a $100,000 fee for every H-1B visa application. Overnight, what was already a lottery has become a luxury for the ultra-rich. For indian engineers, coders, and students, this is a direct hit—more than 70% of H-1B visas go to Indians.
And yet, what do we hear from prime minister Narendra Modi, the self-proclaimed “Vishwa Guru” and “friend of Trump”? Nothing. Silence. The same man who never misses a chance to host a “Howdy Modi” or “Namaste Trump” gala now can’t even defend his own citizens.
1. $2,000 vs. $100,000: The Overnight Jump
Until yesterday, H-1B fees hovered around $2,000–$3,000. Now? A jaw-dropping $100,000 per application.That’s not a hike, that’s extortion.
2. indians Are the Target, Don’t Pretend Otherwise
Over 70% of H-1B visas go to Indians. This policy may be wrapped in “protecting U.S. jobs” language, but make no mistake—it’s india that takes the bullet.
3. Innovation Choked at Birth
Indian engineers fuel Silicon Valley. Slamming the door on them doesn’t just hurt India—it risks gutting U.S. innovation pipelines. But trump doesn’t care, and apparently neither does Modi.
4. Modi’s Deafening Silence
The self-styled global statesman, who never tires of “Modi-Modi” chants in American stadiums, suddenly has no voice. No statement. No pushback. Just awkward silence while indian families panic.
5. “Friendship” or Facepalm?
Remember the bear hugs, the joint rallies, the “chemistry”? All gone. When it matters most, Modi’s much-hyped “friendship” with trump has delivered zero protection for indians abroad.
6. Rich Benefit, Middle Class Suffers
Only India’s elite can afford $100,000 applications. The middle-class dreamer—the IIT coder, the small-town genius—is crushed before takeoff. Inequality widens, and Modi is complicit by omission.
7. Brain Drain Becomes Brain Lockdown
Ironically, this could force talent to stay back in India. But without enough high-paying jobs here, that “opportunity” turns into brain waste instead of brain gain.
8. A leader Who Loves PR, Not People
From Statue of Unity selfies to diaspora photo-ops, Modi has milked the nri dream for optics. But when trump drops a sledgehammer on that very dream, all indians get is silence.
👉 trump may have signed the proclamation, but Modi signed off on it with his silence. For lakhs of indian families, this isn’t just a fee hike—it’s the end of an era. And the “Vishwa Guru” watched quietly as their future was auctioned off at $100,000 apiece.
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