Screengrab from viral video (Image/Instagram)
NEW DELHI: A comedian’s satirical take on US immigration policy has gone viral, with a video showing him impersonating President Donald Trump and mockingly “selling” H-1B visas in India under a buy-one-get-one-free scheme. The clip has drawn sharp reactions online amid debate over recent changes to the visa programme.The video, posted by comedian Austin Nasso on Tuesday, shows him dressed like Trump, complete with a red tie, suit and similar hairstyle, approaching people on the street. In the clip, he is also seen holding documents and even sitting inside an auto-rickshaw while continuing the act.
“Excuse me, sir. H1B. 100,000. We’re selling H1B for 100,000,” he says in the clip. Announcing the offer, he adds, “H1B visa, we are selling them. Buy one get one free.”In one exchange, when a person says he prefers Europe to the United States, Nasso responds, “So nasty. How nasty is that.” He later asks another person, “Hundred thousand USD for the H1B.” When the person replies, “I don’t have that,” Nasso counters, “We can do. Can you do 200,000? Deal,” before shaking hands.Looking directly at the camera, the comedian satirically says, “Thank you. He’s coming to America. Yeah. We’re sending him to Guantanamo Bay.” The video has triggered widespread reactions on social media. One user commented, “Buy 1, get 1 free and none of the Indians took the offer? My country is changing.” Another wrote, “What in the world is this overseas Republican campaign strategy.”The satire comes against the backdrop of a recent proclamation signed by President Trump introducing a steep $100,000 fee for companies sponsoring new H-1B visas. The move marked a sharp jump from earlier costs, where employers paid a few thousand dollars to register and file petitions for foreign professionals.Defending the decision, the White House has said the higher fee is meant to ensure that only genuinely highly skilled professionals enter the United States. Officials have argued that the H-1B programme had been misused in the past and that the change would encourage companies to prioritise American workers.The announcement, however, sparked concern among Indian professionals and technology firms, given that Indians form the largest share of H-1B visa holders, particularly in sectors such as technology, consulting and healthcare.Following confusion over the policy, the White House clarified that the $100,000 charge is a one-time fee applicable only to new visa applications. It does not apply to renewals or to existing H-1B visa holders, including those currently travelling outside the US.
