New Delhi: Congress MP Manickam Tagore has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide relief to Indian students impacted by the US administration's recent move to impose a one-time USD 1,00,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, the Virudhunagar MP sought a five-year deferment on repayment of education loans, including interest, for students who have returned to India without securing an H-1B visa despite having job offers.

Tagore said many students from middle-class and lower-income families had taken substantial loans to pursue higher education in the US with the expectation of gaining employment through the H-1B route and repaying their debts over time. However, the combination of high visa costs and the randomized lottery system has left several of them jobless and burdened with debt.

“The recent hike in visa costs has put students under severe financial distress. Graduates are returning without jobs despite being highly qualified,” he said.

The MP also urged the government to direct banks to adopt a compassionate approach under RBI guidance and explore support mechanisms such as re-skilling programmes, domestic job facilitation, or access to start-up funding to reintegrate affected students into the Indian workforce.

Last week, the Trump administration clarified that the USD 1,00,000 fee would apply only to new H-1B visa petitions and not to current visa holders.