Indian professionals, the largest recipients of H-1B visas in the U.S., are grappling with growing insecurity under the Trump administration’s evolving immigration policies. Major tech firms, including Google, Meta, and Amazon, are cautioning visa-holding employees against international travel, fearing potential re-entry denials, according to The Washington Post.
The H-1B program, granting 65,000 visas annually via a lottery system, is crucial to America’s tech industry. Indians dominate approvals, followed by Chinese and Canadian nationals. However, rising visa restrictions have forced some workers to cancel trips to India, fearing legal hurdles upon return. One worker even voiced concerns over potential birthright citizenship changes, worried that future children could be left stateless.
Amid heightened scrutiny, visa holders now carry legal documents at all times. Companies are also funding expedited visa extensions to counteract processing delays—an expensive but necessary measure. An HR executive in Silicon Valley acknowledged that the stress “affects performance,” as workers fear unexpected policy shifts.
The road to permanent residency remains even more challenging. Due to per-country caps, Indian professionals endure decades-long waits for Green Cards. Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity AI, valued at $9 billion, revealed he has waited three years for residency despite employing hundreds.
Although Trump has recently expressed support for H-1B workers, past policies saw visa denial rates rise to 15%. Immigration lawyers warn that similar trends may return, leaving thousands of skilled professionals in limbo.
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