India Encourages Talent Return Amid US $100K H-1B Fee Impact

The recent increase by President Donald Trump of the H-1B visa application fee to $100,000 has significantly impacted Indian tech professionals aspiring to work in the United States, leading to a growing discontent among this group. This steep fee hike has prompted India’s government to actively encourage skilled expatriates to return home and contribute to the nation's technology and innovation sectors, hoping to trigger a reverse brain drain. Anecdotal evidence shows an uptick in inquiries from Indians abroad about returning, with some like former Meta executive Nithin Hassan already relocating and launching startups to assist returnees. However, experts caution that attracting large numbers of professionals back to India will be challenging despite the expanding opportunities in India’s tech ecosystem and the growth of Global Capability Centres. Meanwhile, other countries including Canada, Germany, the UK, Finland, Taiwan, South Korea, and China are also liberalizing visa policies to attract Indian IT, medical, and science professionals, presenting alternative global opportunities. The combination of the US visa fee hike and more welcoming policies abroad is reshaping the migration and career decisions of Indian tech talent globally.