100K For H-1B: American Dream Over For Indians?

The Donald Trump administration in the United States is imposing a new regulation in connection with the H1B visa policy in the country which could directly affect scores of the visa workers who are employed by private companies.

US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a $100,000 H-1B visa fee has come as a major shock for Indians. His decisions often appear arbitrary, similar to the way local landlords in India act without considering the wider impact.

While it is fair for a leader to prioritize his own nation’s interests, using that logic to repeatedly impose sudden shocks on other countries is unreasonable. India, in particular, seems to face the brunt of these actions.

The real strength to counter this does not lie only with the Indian government, but also with ordinary Indian citizens. Instead of protests or street demonstrations, a more powerful response lies in everyday consumer choices.

By reducing dependence on American products and services, Indians can send a clear message. For example, not buying an iPhone will not cause any loss to daily life, shopping on Flipkart instead of Amazon is an easy alternative, and Ola can replace Uber. Even in food and beverages, Indians can avoid McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Starbucks, and choose local substitutes.

In the United States, industry lobbies are highly influential. If their revenues fall, they will put pressure on the government to soften its stance.

Therefore, if Indians collectively and consistently reduce the use of American products, the economic impact will reach Washington within a short time.

Of course, some essentials like Microsoft may remain unavoidable, but avoiding luxury or lifestyle products such as Apple, Nike, Pepsi, or Netflix is very much possible.

Ultimately, the most effective “return gift” to Trump’s tariffs and visa shocks can come from the average Indian consumer. Millions of small decisions can add up to a powerful signal that India cannot be taken lightly.