H-1B: Indian IT Companies Found Ways To Avoid The Stress Of H-1B Visas

After Joe Biden become the President, a host of industries in the US breathed a sigh of relief.

Many industries will now be looking forward to March 9. When the registration for fresh H-1B applications open, the Indian IT outsourcing sector – once the biggest beneficiary of the visa – might not be holding its breath.

Even as Indian IT workers make up the bulk of H-1B recipients, it is not Indian companies hiring them. Over the years, companies like TCS, Infosys and Wipro, have reduced dependence on H-1B to protect their businesses from any sudden policy changes.

This shift began well before the visa programme was beaten and bruised by the Trump government, and now, even as the Indian IT industry gets over 65% of its revenue from the US, H-1B is not nearly as indispensable for these firms as it once was.

By 2018, Facebook, Google and Amazon had become the biggest beneficiaries of H-1B.

Four years ago, Infosys vowed to create 10k jobs in the US. Since then, it has opened up hubs in Indianapolis and Connecticut stepped up hiring. TCS has engaged over 21,500 associates in the country in the past 5 years.

By 2022, it plans to recruit 10k more local employees and by 2028, it will invest upwards of $100 million in Austin, Texas.

Immigrant-friendly neighbouring countries have also come to the rescue of Indian IT. Canada and Mexico have been the obvious choices because of better immigration processes and cheaper costs respectively.