Jaishankar to Meet US Secretary of State Rubio in New York Over H-1B Visa Fee Dispute
Bilateral discussions to focus on USD 100,000 H-1B visa fee hike, trade relations, and strengthening India-US ties during UNGA session.
NEW YORK, Sept 22: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is scheduled to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on Monday on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). The talks will cover trade relations and the controversial USD 100,000 H-1B visa fee hike, which has sparked criticism from US tech companies and raised concerns among Indian professionals.
This marks the first in-person meeting between Jaishankar and Rubio since the Trump administration imposed additional tariffs on India, including a 25% tariff over Indian purchases of Russian oil, raising total US tariffs on India to 50%. The meeting aims to bridge divides in the bilateral relationship and continue efforts to strengthen ties.
Rubio and Jaishankar last met in July during the QUAD Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Washington, D.C. Their latest interaction coincides with renewed India-US trade talks, with a high-level delegation led by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal engaging the US side in New York. Officials said the discussions aim at concluding a long-pending mutually beneficial trade agreement.
In response to the H-1B fee hike, India highlighted the potential humanitarian impact on families and expressed hope that US authorities would address these disruptions appropriately. The latest talks build on trade negotiations resumed on September 16 in New Delhi, marking the first in-person engagement since Washington’s tariffs on Indian exports were imposed last month.
