CAN RETURNING TECH MINDS FUEL INDIA'S RISE?

The growing ambiguity around H-IB visas is driving a surge in interest in job opportunities back home

- Mastufa Ahmed

Selva S. spent 17 years in the US semiconductor industry before returning to India through an internal transfer. His H-IB visa remains valid until December 2027, which means he could earn far more money than he would in India, but the growing uncertainty around long-term work authorization, he feels, made the trade-off worthwhile.

Selva's decision reflects a broader rethink among specialized tech hands. From the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to tier-II colleges, generations of engineers built their dreams around a US visa, a job in Silicon Valley, and the promise of global success. For decades, that journey shaped careers, secured families, and turned India into the world's premier supplier of tech talent.

Now, a proposed $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas has made it commercially unviable for American companies to hire from India. Rating agency Crisil estimates the change could add $150-$550 million in annual costs for top Indian IT companies, while brokerage Jefferies warns profits could shrink by as much as 1.5% per H-IB worker-a hit that makes the old model unworkable.

The stakes get higher with artificial intelligence (AI). In early 2026, Indian IT stocks suffered a sharp decline as clients began repricing contracts based on AI-driven productivity gains. AI-powered workflow tools are automating core outsourcing tasks that once sustained the H-IB pipeline.

For the country's brightest minds, this moment presents a clear choice. They can move to countries rolling out the red carpet, or build at home at a time when India's startup and deep-tech ecosystem is finally gaining momentum.

CHANGE IN THE AIR

The growing ambiguity around H-1B visas is driving a surge in interest in job opportunities back home from Indian talent working overseas.