The re-election of Donald Trump in the 2025 U.S. presidential race has again put the future of H-1B visas for Indians into debate, a most important route for skilled Indian professionals to go to the United States for work. Realizing that the term of Trump has seen many changes through his “America First” policy, many anticipate change in this visa program, which has become the backbone of India’s IT and tech sectors.
Do you know? 77% of H-1B visas were for Indians
Recently, for example, 77% of H-1B visa approvals were awarded to Indians, so about 320,000 applicants were Indian nationals. Some say that such policies restricting the visa during his previous term of office were introduced by Trump with the argument that he would protect the American job market. These policies included strict scrutiny of visa applications, higher denial rates, and long Requests for Evidence, which prolonged the process for future applicants.
During Trump, the H-1B visa denial rate surged from a humble 6% in 2015 to nearly 30% in 2020, placing difficulties for skilled workers, especially Indians, in getting job opportunities in the U.S. Other measures would include higher minimum wages to bring foreign workers’ salaries closer to what the American mainstream pays.
This would drive up costs for employers further and may deter them from importing foreign talent. The Trump administration’s 2020 Interim Final Rule had already raised the minimum wages available to H-1B workers to 43 per cent to 71 per cent above what had been paid previously, but courts again overturned the policy.
Indian professionals in US will reduce in numbers under Trump’s rule
Looking ahead, Trump has floated further restrictions including lowering the annual H-1B visa cap and tighter eligibility criteria. Industries that rely on foreign expertise for recruitment, such as the tech industry, could find such policies disrupt their ability to recruit Indian professionals, often the first choice of employer.
For Indians looking for H-1B visas, any changes could result in a fewer number of available jobs, a greater cost, and uncertainty over long-term future plans. Indian professionals, as well as U.S. employers, are now preparing themselves to face this ever-changing and, as some say, even hostile landscape for H-1B visas for Indians as the Trump administration commences a new term in office.
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