Jaishankar to Meet US Secretary Rubio at UNGA
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is set to meet US Secretary Marco Rubio today during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York. The meeting is scheduled for 11 AM local time in New York, which is 8:30 PM in India.
The discussions between Jaishankar and Rubio will likely center around trade negotiations. A significant point of conversation is expected to be the recent increase in H-1B visa fees, a decision made by the Trump administration.
The White House announced on September 20 that the new fee of $100,000 is a one-time charge for visa petitions. It will not affect those who currently hold valid visas and are looking to re-enter the United States. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed this, stating, “This is NOT an annual fee. It’s a one-time fee that applies only to the petition.”
This announcement about the H-1B visa fee spike has raised concerns among major tech companies, including Meta and Microsoft, as they navigate potential impacts on their workforce.
Meanwhile, the UNGA session this year coincides with noteworthy events, including the UN’s 80th anniversary, a Climate Ambition Summit led by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and a high-level meeting to mark 30 years of the Beijing Declaration on women’s rights.
