H-1B visa: How the US policy shift may not rock the boat for Indian engineers

H-1B visa policies have raised considerable concern among Indian IT professionals aspiring to work in the United States. However, the impact on Indian engineers and tech specialists may not be as drastic as expected. This is due to two main factors: a shortage of skilled American workers in specialized technical fields and an increasing emphasis by tech giants like Microsoft and Google on tapping into Indian engineering talent to lead the next phase of technological advancement, particularly in Artificial Intelligence (AI) development.

Indian professionals have traditionally made up the majority of H-1B visa recipients. Although regulatory changes will impact Indian applicants, various factors indicate that the consequences may not be as severe as expected, resulting in fewer opportunities for Indian engineers, IT experts, and other skilled professionals in critical industries.

ALSO READ: H-1B visa registration for FY26 opens today: Key things to know

Key changes likely to affect Indian H1-B aspirants

Indian professionals have reportedly dominated the H-1B visa landscape, receiving 72.3% of all H-1B visas issued between October 2022 and September 2023. However, recent policy changes could impact their chances as the US is moving for stricter enforcement against fraudulent applications and misuse of the programme. The policy changes bat for increased wage requirements to ensure that H-1B visa holders are paid fairly and competitively with their American counterparts, preventing companies from undercutting wages.


(