The US is proposing to raise the H-1B work visa fee to over ₹83 lakh — and while your employer pays that, not you, it will change how companies hire Indian talent. India sends more than 70% of all H-1B workers to the US, so this lands closer to home than almost anywhere else.
When hiring costs jump this sharply, companies hire fewer people abroad, offer lower starting salaries to offset the fee, or shift the work to other locations. The offer letter you've been planning for could look very different — or arrive much later.
What this means for you
- If you're actively applying for US roles, expect longer timelines and fewer openings — companies will be far more selective about who they sponsor.
- Starting salaries in the US may not rise to offset this cost, so your net gain after moving expenses shrinks.
- Canada, Germany, and the UK are actively recruiting Indian tech talent — worth exploring as real alternatives right now.
What you can do
- Don't pause your skills-building — demand for Indian tech talent globally is still strong, even if the US door narrows.
- If the US is your goal, talk to your company's HR about their sponsorship policy now, before your plans are set in stone.
One door getting harder to open usually means it's time to check which other doors are already unlocked.