Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday urged the Indian government to respond swiftly to new United States executive orders affecting H1B visa holders. He called the decision “totally unacceptable” and said it undermined decades of Indo-American cooperation.

Revanth Reddy warned that Telugu-speaking tech professionals would suffer the most. He requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to act “on a war footing.” He also asked the Centre to create a mechanism that would protect the interests of Indian skilled workers in the US.

H1B visa policy changes draw state-level protest

The US government recently introduced a $100,000 annual fee for each H1B visa. This fee applies to both fresh applications and renewals. It takes effect from September 21, just days after the announcement.

Several tech companies advised their H1B and H4 employees currently abroad to return before the deadline. Although US officials later clarified that reentry would not be blocked, the sudden rollout caused panic and uncertainty. As a result, many professionals rushed to reschedule their travel.

Indian nationals hold over 70 percent of all H1B visas. The new rule could sharply increase costs for employers. Moreover, it may disrupt long-standing work arrangements across the technology sector.

The executive orders of President of America had come as a shocker to all.
This is totally unacceptable in the historical context of Indo-American relationships.

It is for the Indian Government to immediately set up a mechanism to resolve this amicably keeping the interests of…

— Revanth Reddy (@revanth_anumula) September 20, 2025

Industry groups have voiced concern over the fee hike. They warned it could lead to job losses, stalled projects, and emotional stress for workers and families. Critics also questioned whether such a major change can be enforced through executive action alone.