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    NORTH AMERICAN NEWSLINE                                             OCTOBER 24, 2025  |      The Indian Eye 24

                  Connecticut Congressman Jim Himes

                                  Support GOPIO’s Stand on

                                                     H-1B Visa Issue

            OUR BUREAU
            New York, NY
                  he Connecticut Chapter the
                  Global Organization of People
            Tof Indian Origin (GOPIO-CT)
            held virtual meeting with Connecti-
            cut Congressman Jim Himes (CT 4th
            District) on October 9th, 2025 on “H-
            1B Visa Fee Hike of $100,000.”

            The meeting was attended by
            GOPIO-CT and GOPIO Interna-
            tional officials as well as mem-
            bers and those businesses who

            have been affected by this new
            decision by the Trump Admin-
            istration.

                The meeting was held at the ini-       GOPIO-CT’s Virtual Meeting with US Congressman Jim Himes, Top Row: Attorney Nandita Ruchandani, Rep. Jim Himes.
            tiative GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thom-                    Bottom Row: l. to r.: Prasad Chintalapudi, Shailehs Naik, Dr. S.K. Lo and Dr. Thomas Abraham
            as Abraham, who also serves as
            Trustee and Advisor to the chapter.   talapudi and Cameron Engineers   other social services. H-1B holders   agreed with Dr. Abraham that many
            In his remarks, Dr. Abraham said   President Shailesh Naik brought to   are  often  employed  by  American   highly qualified people would leave
            that, according to public information   the attention of Congressman Himes   businesses that will have  to  shut   the USA which will be great loss of
            from Chat GPT, the H-1B program   that the new fee hike will harm small   down  because  the  profit  margin  is   our country.
            annually  benefited  the  USA  with   companies who hire highly qualified   just not enough to justify paying the   On an audience question about
            over $200 billion while the cost was   tech people.                 $100,000 fee. For example, small en-  current status of USA relation with
            only $8.5 billion.                    Panzer Solutions employs H-1B   gineering firms that build and repair   India, Rep. Himes has said that the
                Dr. Abraham said, “By making   visa holders. Chintalapudi, who is   municipal water systems are limited   cooperation with India still continues
            it difficult for highly qualified peo-  also a trustee of GOPIO-CT, said   to what they can pay by what they   in Commerce, Trade and Defense.
            ple to work in the USA, the country   that many small and medium com-  can charge the local government.   Over the last 20 years, GO-
            will lose out in the long run if they   panies who have H-1B visas holders   “The chaos caused by the sud-  PIO-CT, a chapter of GOPIO In-
            take employment in Canada, Ger-   on their pay roll have been creating   den imposition of this huge fee has   ternational has become an active
            man and China, which have offered   local employment and keeping jobs   already disrupted many lives and   and dynamic organization  hosting
            to take them.”                    in the USA. He also said that many   businesses,” Ruchandani added.  interactive sessions with policy mak-
                Dr. Abraham also brought com-  CEOs of large companies including    Also, speaking at the virtual   ers and academicians, community
            munity’s concerns on the tardiness   Elon Musk, Sundar Pichai, Satya Na-  meeting was Dr. S.K. Lo, Chairper-  events, youth mentoring and net-
            on the US-India dialogue to resolv-  della and Aravind Krishna emerged   son of Asian American Unity Coa-  working workshops, and working
            ing bilateral issues.             from H1B program.                 lition  (AAUC) who said  that  such   with other area organizations to
                GOPIO-CT  President Mahesh        Attorney Nandita Ruchandani   issues have to be taken unitedly and   help create a better future. GO-
            Jhangiani told of the negative impact   who spoke on behalf of Cameron   AAUC is willing to support.  PIO-CT – Global Organization of
            of the H-1B rules on small business-  Engineers said that H-1B holders in-  Congressman Himes, who is in   People of Indian Origin – serves as a
            es since the larger corporations can   cluded doctors and other healthcare   his ninth term, serves as Ranking   non-partisan, secular, civic and com-
            afford to pay the $100,000 fees, but   professionals in undeserved areas,   Member of the House Permanent   munity service organization  – pro-
            cost  will  be  unbearable  for  small   teachers, accountants, and engineers   Select Committee on Intelligence,   moting awareness of Indian culture,
            and medium businesses. Jhangiani   as well as tech workers. H-1B im-  and on the House Financial Ser-  customs and contributions of people
            also  expressed  his  concerns on the   migrants pay into the social securi-  vices Committee. In his reply, Con-  of Indian origin through community
            anti-India policies of the Trump Ad-  ty system but can never access that   gressmen  Himes  said  that  he  fully   programs, forums, events and youth
            ministration.                     money until they become permanent   supported our views and that the   activities. It seeks to strengthen part-
                Two GOPIO-CT members Pan-     residents. They own houses and pay   issues in US-India Relations have to   nerships and create an ongoing dia-
            zer Solutions Founder Prasad Chin-  taxes that bolster school systems and   be resolved soon. Rep. Himes also   logue with local communities.

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