Indian tech industry to enhance local skilling, hiring in US: Nasscom

Nasscom said Indian IT firms are investing over $1 billion in US skilling and hiring, reducing reliance on H-1B visas. New $100,000 fee applies only to fresh petitions from 2026.

New Delhi: The Indian IT and tech industry is spending more than $1 billion on local upskilling and hiring in the US, and the number of local hires has risen sharply, the industry’s apex body Nasscom said on Monday.

Over the years, Indian and India-centric companies operating in the US have significantly reduced their dependence on H-1B visas and steadily increased local recruitment.

---

“Moreover, with the fee being applicable from 2026 onward, companies have time to further step up skilling programmes in the US and enhance local hiring,” Nasscom said.

Data shows that H-1B visas issued to leading Indian and India-centric companies fell from 14,792 in 2015 to 10,162 in 2024.

“H-1B workers for the top 10 Indian and India-centric companies are less than 1 per cent of their total employee base. Given this trajectory, we anticipate only a marginal impact for the sector,” Nasscom added.

The H-1B visa is a high-skilled worker mobility programme and a non-immigrant visa that helps bridge critical skills gaps in the US. Salaries for H-1B professionals are at par with local hires, and such workers form only a minuscule portion of the overall US workforce.

“Nasscom has consistently advocated for predictable and stable skilled talent mobility frameworks, which are critical for sustaining national competitiveness and have long fuelled US innovation and economic growth,” the body said.

It added that skilled talent mobility will be central to enabling businesses to make forward-looking investment decisions, accelerate research, and strengthen nations’ positions in the global innovation economy.

On September 20, the White House issued clarifications on the recent proclamation introducing a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications.

The clarification made clear that the measure will not affect current visa holders and will apply as a one-time fee only to fresh petitions. This has helped resolve immediate ambiguity on eligibility and timelines and alleviated concerns over business continuity for H-1B holders outside the US.