Do Indian professionals on H-1B visas take jobs away from American citizens?

By Raj Kumar Sinha*

Indians are the largest recipients of H-1B visas. Between October 2022 and September 2023, Indian citizens received approximately 72.3% of all H-1B visas issued by the US. This means that out of every 100 visas, around 70-75 go to Indians.

However, the number of visa approvals is declining. Compared to 2023, the number of approvals for Indians in 2024-25 has fallen by about 28 to 37%. There has been a significant drop in the number of applications being approved.

For fiscal year 2026, there has been a sharp decline in H-1B visa registrations. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services received about 358,000 registrations in fiscal year 2026, a much lower number than in previous years. This suggests that the new rules and increased costs are discouraging applicants.

Based on this data, the following estimations can be made about how many Indians might be affected:

A large increase in visa fees, especially for companies and individuals with fewer resources or those who are entry-level, could lead to fewer applications. This particularly impacts those who apply every year for master's degrees. The reduced chance of selection will also increase competition.

Stricter laws and regulations will affect both large and small companies, but the impact will be more significant on small and medium-sized service providers, potentially reducing job opportunities. Some employers may shift their focus to local hiring instead of foreign workers.

Changes in the total visa quota or country cap could result in many Indians who are ready to apply or have been waiting for years not receiving a visa. This will make the chances of getting a visa even more difficult. The annual cap for H-1B visas is about 85,000, with 65,000 for the general category and 20,000 for the master's category. Currently, Indians receive more than 60,000 visas per year. If the approval rate or number of applications drops by 30 to 40%, approximately 20,000-25,000 Indian applicants could be affected annually because they won't get a visa. This number could be even higher—30,000 to 40,000 or more—if fees are too high and the quota or rules become very strict.

In fiscal year 2024-25, the total remittances sent to India by Indians working in various countries was approximately ₹11.93 lakh crore. Out of this, remittances from Indians living in the US alone were ₹3.30 lakh crore. This is a significant source of income for India, as a portion of the income of non-resident Indians is sent back to the country. Experts believe that a tightening of H-1B policies could lead to a decrease of approximately ₹33,000 to 49,500 crore in remittances from the US to India.

The US has a shortage of local talent in many high-tech, engineering, and medical fields. The H-1B visa program provides access to skilled engineers, doctors, scientists, and IT professionals from around the world, especially from India and China. H-1B visa holders have played a crucial role in the American startup ecosystem and at major tech companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon. Google's CEO Sundar Pichai and Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella are both of Indian origin and started their careers on H-1B visas. These professionals pay taxes, increase consumption, and contribute to the US economy. American companies get affordable and qualified employees, which reduces their costs and increases their profits. Bringing in global talent keeps American companies at the forefront of innovation and technological competition.

However, a section of US citizens argues that professionals on H-1B visas take jobs away from American citizens. Local workers, especially in the IT and programming sectors, have to compete with them. Sometimes, companies hire visa workers at a relatively lower salary, which slows down wage growth for American employees. Indian IT companies (Infosys, TCS, Wipro, etc.) use H-1B visas on a large scale. There are accusations in American politics that they bypass American workers by bringing in cheap labor.

For the US, the H-1B visa is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it strengthens its economy and technological advantage. On the other, it creates concerns about local American jobs and wages. Therefore, the US government often introduces reforms and changes, such as the lottery system, fee increases, salary standards, and restrictions on employers. Social, political, and legal challenges are growing. The visa makes the employee dependent on the employer. Sometimes, companies take advantage of this by overworking employees or limiting their job freedom.

The "America First" policy has continuously targeted the H-1B visa, as it is seen as a threat to American jobs. However, in reality, it is also essential for American technology and innovation. Therefore, the US uses it in a balanced way and does not completely shut it down, but it brings in strict rules to show that its first priority is jobs for American citizens.

The "America First" policy and changes to the H-1B policy will have a deep impact on India, as Indians have been the biggest beneficiaries of the program. The Indian government has repeatedly urged the US to adopt a more liberal stance on the H-1B policy concerning Indian professionals.

---

*Bargi Dam Displaced and Affected Association

Comments

Gram sabha as reformer: Mandla’s quiet challenge to the liquor economy

By Raj Kumar Sinha* This year, the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj is organising a two-day PESA Mahotsav in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on 23–24 December 2025. The event marks the passage of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA), enacted by Parliament on 24 December 1996 to establish self-governance in Fifth Schedule areas. Scheduled Areas are those notified by the President of India under Article 244(1) read with the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, which provides for a distinct framework of governance recognising the autonomy of tribal regions. At present, Fifth Schedule areas exist in ten states: Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana. The PESA Act, 1996 empowers Gram Sabhas—the village assemblies—as the foundation of self-rule in these areas. Among the many powers devolved to them is the authority to take decisions on local matters, including the regulation...

MG-NREGA: A global model still waiting to be fully implemented

By Bharat Dogra When the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MG-NREGA) was introduced in India nearly two decades ago, it drew worldwide attention. The reason was evident. At a time when states across much of the world were retreating from responsibility for livelihoods and welfare, the world’s second most populous country—with nearly two-thirds of its people living in rural or semi-rural areas—committed itself to guaranteeing 100 days of employment a year to its rural population.

Policy changes in rural employment scheme and the politics of nomenclature

By N.S. Venkataraman* The Government of India has introduced a revised rural employment programme by fine-tuning the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which has been in operation for nearly two decades. The MGNREGA scheme guarantees 100 days of employment annually to rural households and has primarily benefited populations in rural areas. The revised programme has been named VB-G RAM–G (Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission – Gramin). The government has stated that the revised scheme incorporates several structural changes, including an increase in guaranteed employment from 100 to 125 days, modifications in the financing pattern, provisions to strengthen unemployment allowances, and penalties for delays in wage payments. Given the extent of these changes, the government has argued that a new name is required to distinguish the revised programme from the existing MGNREGA framework. As has been witnessed in recent years, the introdu...

Rollback of right to work? VB–GRAM G Bill 'dilutes' statutory employment guarantee

By A Representative The Right to Food Campaign has strongly condemned the passage of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB–GRAM G) Bill, 2025, describing it as a major rollback of workers’ rights and a fundamental dilution of the statutory Right to Work guaranteed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). In a statement, the Campaign termed the repeal of MGNREGA a “dark day for workers’ rights” and accused the government of converting a legally enforceable, demand-based employment guarantee into a centralised, discretionary welfare scheme.

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

'Structural sabotage': Concern over sector-limited job guarantee in new employment law

By A Representative The advocacy group Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA) has raised concerns over the passage of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (VB–G RAM G), which was approved during the recently concluded session of Parliament amid protests by opposition members. The legislation is intended to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

India’s Halal economy 'faces an uncertain future' under the new food Bill

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The proposed Food Safety and Standards (Amendment) Bill, 2025 marks a decisive shift in India’s food regulation landscape by seeking to place Halal certification exclusively under government control while criminalising all private Halal certification bodies. Although the Bill claims to promote “transparency” and “standardisation,” its structure and implications raise serious concerns about religious freedom, economic marginalisation, and the systematic dismantling of a long-established, Muslim-led Halal ecosystem in India.

Making rigid distinctions between Indian and foreign 'historically untenable'

By A Representative Oral historian, filmmaker and cultural conservationist Sohail Hashmi has said that everyday practices related to attire, food and architecture in India reflect long histories of interaction and adaptation rather than rigid or exclusionary ideas of identity. He was speaking at a webinar organised by the Indian History Forum (IHF).

From jobless to ‘job-loss’ growth: Experts critique gig economy and fintech risks

By A Representative Leading economists and social activists gathered in the capital on Friday to launch the third edition of the State of Finance in India Report 2024-25 , issuing a stark warning that the rapid digitalization of the Indian economy is eroding welfare systems and entrenching "digital dystopia."

Search This Blog