“Aao, Ab Laut Chalen”: Edelweiss CEO Radhika Gupta Urges Indians in US to Return Amid H-1B Visa Fee Hike
"Aao, Ab Laut Chalen": Edelweiss CEO Radhika Gupta Urges Indians in US to Return Amid H-1B Visa Fee Hike
Edelweiss AMC chief reflects on her own journey and says India offers more opportunities today than ever before
Edelweiss AMC’s Managing Director and CEO, Radhika Gupta, has urged Indian professionals and students in the United States to reconsider returning home after the US government hiked the H-1B visa application fee to $100,000.
Responding to the decision announced by President Donald Trump’s administration, Gupta said she would not want to go back to the US “at all.” In a detailed LinkedIn post, she reflected on her own experiences in America and encouraged Indians to view the changes as an opportunity rather than a setback.
“I was fortunate to graduate in 2005, when H-1B norms were far more favourable in the US. But things changed quickly in 2008 during the financial crisis—many Indian students felt upset, lost, and stuck,” she wrote.
Gupta, who studied Computer Science Engineering and Economics at the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton School, began her career with McKinsey & Co. before moving to AQR Capital Management in 2006. She recalled how visa restrictions after the crisis prompted many Indians to return home, a decision that in hindsight turned out to be positive for many.
“Some eventually returned home, and years later, even those of us who still had the visa made the same choice. Today, we’ve built fulfilling lives here with tremendous professional opportunities and the deeper joy of creating in our own country,” she said.
According to Gupta, India in 2025 offers far greater opportunities than it did two decades ago. “Personally, I wouldn’t want to go back, at all,” she stated, highlighting the professional growth and entrepreneurial ecosystem that has flourished in the country.
Encouraging Indian students currently studying in the US, she wrote: “So, if you’re on a US campus right now feeling shaken or disheartened, I know what that feels like. But remember: when one door closes, many others open back home. And India of 2025 is a far more exciting place than India of 2005 ever was. Chin up. Aao, ab laut chalen!”
The US administration clarified that the $100,000 H-1B fee will apply only to new applicants, not to renewals or reentry. The measure is valid for 12 months unless extended, and employers must provide proof of payment before H-1B workers can enter the country. Officials said the hike aims to protect American jobs and ensure that only the “most skilled” foreign workers are hired.
