Now Reading: Indian IT firms less exposed to new US visa fee hike
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Indian IT firms less exposed to new US visa fee hike
Indian technology companies may be less affected by the Trump administration's latest H-1B visa fee proposal, as they have significantly reduced dependence on the programme over the past five years, according to industry body Nasscom. Companies have expanded local hiring in the US and invested in STEM education, Nasscom said on Tuesday.
The White House on Monday proposed a new roughly $103,000 sponsorship fee for H-1B visas, part of a plan expected to generate $8.8 billion from 85,000 applications. A federal court had earlier struck down a previous $100,000 fee policy, and the administration is appealing that decision.
Major Indian IT firms including Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, and Infosys have reported high levels of local staffing in the US. Around 15,100 technology professionals returned to India in 2025, up from 9,800 in 2024, according to talent consultancy Xpheno.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both Livemint and NDTV Profit report the same facts from Nasscom and company earnings, with no partisan slant. The coverage is uniform straight reporting. The shift away from H-1B visas by Indian IT firms has been underway since Trump's first term, and the new fee proposal may accelerate the trend of returning talent to India, as the 15,100 returnees in 2025 suggest. The Nifty IT Index's 0.6% rise after the announcement indicates markets see limited near-term impact. The real test will be whether margins are squeezed as BOB Capital Markets' analyst Girish Pai warned, especially if onsite revenue shares rise.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): livemint.com (neutral report), ndtvprofit.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
