The promised overhaul of the H-1B visa by the US government is supposed to begin from January 17, 2025, according to reports. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has stated that the updation/modification of rules will result in clearly spelt out eligibility norm, streamlined processes, fairness and transparency.
“These improvements to the programme provide employers with greater flexibility to hire global talent, boost our economic competitiveness, and allow highly skilled workers to continue advancing American innovation,” said Alejandro N Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security. The signal is clear: employers in the US will find it easier to hire hi-tech workers form abroad, which will, in effect, mean increased possibilities for those seeking a career in the largest economy of the world.
Indian professionals to benefit
The H-1b visa reforms will mean higher benefits and increased possibilities for Indian professionals. Data show that they accounted for 72.3% of the 386,000 H-1B visas issued. Significantly, for India, the H01B visa reforms could not have come at a more appropriate time.
Reports indicate the reform process is being undertaken when prominent employers in the US have reported a decline in the number of H-1B approvals. For example, Amazon – it happened to be the largest sponsor – suffered a drop of H-1B visa inductees between 2023 and 2024. Between these two years, the number dropped from 11,000+ in 2023 to a shade over 7,000 in 2024.
Some of the Indian firms that suffered as a result included IT majors such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Infosys. While Infosys witnessed a drop in H-1B visa approvals from 7,300 to 5,900, India’s biggest software company TCS went through a dip of about 1,600 approvals. No wonder, all the major IT companies from India are eagerly looking forward to the promised H-1B visa overhaul by the Donald Trump administration. Significantly, the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, who is one of the persons who is driving this overhaul, has spoken out against the quota system of the H-1B visa soon after Trump won the race to the White House.
The Donald Trump administration has indicated that it will undertake an overhaul of the crucial H-1B visa programme and can even relax the quota system which will be a major boon for Indians seeking to pursue a career in the US in the tech sector. Biz News Business News – Personal Finance News, Share Market News, BSE/NSE News, Stock Exchange News Today
