Ajay Bhutoria, a former adviser to former President Joe Biden and a prominent voice in the Indian American community on immigration issues, told reporters that widespread misuse of the H-1B visa program prompted the Trump administration to introduce a controversial $100,000 fee.
On a recent podcast, Bhutoria recounted a visit three years ago to a major shoemaking facility, where he observed an Indian IT company running a large project. He noted that many of the workers onsite were using B-1 visas, which are intended solely for short-term business visits.
Bhutoria explained that these individuals had been brought to the U.S. on visitor visas, expected to work for three months without regular pay, receiving only a lump sum at the end of their stay. He told authorities that the arrangement violated visa rules, but they defended it as permissible “training” under B-1 visas. Bhutoria, however, emphasized that no training was taking place as these individuals were performing actual work.
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The B-1 visa is a U.S. non-immigrant visa intended for temporary business visits, not for employment. It allows holders to attend meetings, conferences, negotiations, or participate in short-term training programs.
The Indian-American community leader warned that with stricter H-1B restrictions, companies may turn to the L-1 visa instead. The L-1 is a U.S. non-immigrant work visa that permits firms to transfer employees from a foreign office to a related office such as a branch, parent, subsidiary, or affiliate within the United States. “L-1 visa is a company-to-company transfer and they can’t work on the client site but they violate. And now that they can’t do H-1B, they will use L-1 visas,” he said.
Addressing visa abuse, Bhutoria criticized consulting firms that lure individuals with promises of a prosperous life in the U.S. He said many of these workers arrive only to share cramped one-bedroom apartments with 20 people and take jobs driving for Uber, far from the opportunities they were led to expect.
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In September, Bhutoria described the $100,000 H-1B fee as a “bold move” intended to safeguard American workers. “This U.S. $100,000 H-1B fee, effective Sept 21, 2025, is a bold step that could uplift U.S. Citizens Senior IT workers and new college grads by reducing reliance on lower-cost foreign labor, ensuring fair wages and opportunities for American talent, while also supporting innovation–though startups may face hiring challenges, so a balanced approach with targeted exemptions is essential to keep our tech edge strong,” he said to PTI.
Bhutoria, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, played a pivotal role in Biden’s 2020 election campaign. He was instrumental in mobilizing a large segment of South Asian voters and helped raise substantial campaign funds. Beyond politics, he is a vocal advocate for immigration reform, education, and combating hate crimes. Throughout Biden’s tenure, Bhutoria has frequently lauded the administration’s policy initiatives, highlighting legislation he believes strengthens communities and supports inclusive growth.