H1-B Visa Reforms and Indian-Origin Tech Leaders
The Trump administration is reportedly planning broader reforms to the H1-B visa program, moving beyond its proposal of a $100,000 mandatory fee. In a note titled 'Reforming the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Classification Program', the US Department of Homeland Security suggested several rule changes, including revising eligibility criteria for cap exemptions, increasing scrutiny of employers with past violations, and tightening oversight of third-party job placements. These changes are expected to be published in December this year.
This move follows President Donald Trump's announcement that employers would have to pay a $100,000 fee for each H-1B visa, causing concern among Indian diaspora members on H-1B visas. The deadline was set for September 21.
H-1B visa holders and their families currently outside the US for work or vacation rushed to return within 24 hours to avoid being stranded. Tensions eased slightly after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that the $100,000 fee was a 'one-time fee' applicable only to new petitions.
The Trump administration's efforts to restrict and overhaul the H1-B visa program remain closely watched, as it could disrupt hiring practices in sectors reliant on foreign talent, particularly tech companies unable to bear the high visa costs. Additionally, about a third of H-1B visa holders work in critical sectors beyond tech, such as healthcare, education, religious services, and academia.
In this context, attention turns to high-profile tech industry leaders who were once H-1B visa holders. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, originally from India, moved to the US in the 1990s and secured a green card. However, he relinquished it to bring his wife to the US via an H-1B visa in 1994.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai, born in Chennai in 1972, joined Google in 2004 and was instrumental in developing the Google Chrome browser and Chrome OS. He expressed disappointment when President Trump temporarily suspended H1-B visas, emphasizing immigration's contribution to America's economic success.