H-1B visa
Nearly one-fifth, or 20 percent, of the H1B visas issued by the US have been obtained by Indian-origin technology companies. Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) have been at the forefront in obtaining H1B visas. This conclusion has been drawn from the analysis of data from the US Immigration Department. According to data from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, out of the total 1.3 lakh H1B visas issued to various employers in the period April-September, 2024, about 24,766 visas were issued to Indian-origin companies. Of these, Infosys took the lead with 8,140 beneficiaries.
Amazon Com Services LLC on top
Infosys was followed by TCS (5,274) and HCL America (2,953). After Amazon Com Services LLC, Infosys stood second in getting this visa. Amazon Com Services secured 9,265 H1B visas. Cognizant stood third in the list with 6,321 visas. Cognizant was founded in Chennai, but is now headquartered in New Jersey. The H1B visa program allows companies to temporarily hire foreign professionals for specialized positions.
Indian tech companies remained ahead
Indian companies, especially in the technology sector, have greatly benefited from this program. Leading Indian IT services companies like Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro and HCL Technologies have consistently ranked among the top employers for H1B visa holders. This time Wipro has been at the bottom with 1,634 visas. Tech Mahindra also obtained 1,199 H1B visas during this period. Although these companies are benefiting from the program, they will need to adapt to regulatory changes and public perception as developments unfold.
What is the view of Musk and Trump?
The future of the H1B visa will depend on comprehensive immigration policy reforms coupled with US companies’ need for skilled labor. Industrialist Elon Musk’s Tesla has been a beneficiary of the H1B visa program. Musk has publicly supported the technology industry’s reliance on foreign professionals. In a post on ‘X’ on December 28, Musk had expressed the need to welcome people of all backgrounds who can contribute to America through their hard work. US President-elect Donald Trump has also supported Musk. However, during his last term in 2020, Trump had imposed some restrictions on this program.
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