H-1B Visa: New rules being considered by the Trump administration could completely change how H-1B cards are given out. At the moment, a random lottery method is used to do the job. With the change that is being considered, not everyone would have the same chances of being chosen. Instead, applicants who make more money would get more than one entry, while applicants who make less money would only get one.
This means that soon, paychecks, not luck, might decide who gets to work in the US. Most people with an H-1B visa are Indian workers, so this means things will get harder for them.
Why Indian workers will lose out
Over the past few years, Indian professionals have made up almost three-quarters of all H-1B clearances. While some of these workers are young engineers or mid-level pros, most of them are paid less than the highest level. A senior specialist making top pay at a big tech company will have a much better chance of getting hired after the new system goes live.
To put it simply, experienced Indian workers at global companies may still gain, but new graduates and early-career workers, who are the backbone of India’s IT presence in the US, may have a harder time.
Indian IT companies are affected by the ripples
Indian IT service giants like Infosys, Wipro, and TCS depend on H-1B cards to send workers to the US. Companies would have to pay more and lose younger workers if they had a wage-based choice system in place. More than that, the government wants to raise the application fee significantly, which may make smaller businesses even less likely to apply.
Companies might be forced to limit chances to work on-site and move more work back to India or other countries, which would make them less exposed to the US market.
What’s Going to Happen Next
If these rules are put into place, they could make the H-1B system favor high earners while limiting chances for new talent. If Indian workers want to work in the US, they might need to focus on getting more skills, becoming experts in a certain area, and finding jobs that pay more.
The final result will rest on how these rules are written and whether they can withstand legal or political challenges. One thing is for sure, though: it will be harder than ever for Indian workers to come to the US.
