TOI spoke to eight professionals in the US and in Hyderabad, and at least three had their job offers abruptly revoked due to "visa-related concerns". Hyderabad-based software engineer V Puvvada (name changed) is one such professional. Hired by a US tech giant in Dec, she was preparing to move to San Francisco when her offer was revoked. She had, meanwhile, quit her current job.
"I was offered the job in Dec 2024 and since I had a written confirmation, I resigned from my current job," said the 28-year-old.
The company cited "changing visa dynamics" as the reason for withdrawing the offer. "I feel cheated. Why offer a role when you're not sure about sponsoring the visa? They later said that they will issue my offer letter again when the whole discussion is settled and there is a concrete decision after Donald Trump assumes office. But how long can I wait?" Vaishnavi said.
According to US Citizenship and Immigration Services, over 72% of the 380,000 H1B visas issued in 2023 went to Indians, most of whom work in STEM fields like data science, AI, machine learning, and cybersecurity. These professionals earn an average salary of $118,000 (about Rs 1.01 crore) annually.
However, Indian professionals in the US are staring at an increasingly challenging environment as Trump's administration is expected to "reform" the H1B programme by increasing salary thresholds and costs for employers, aiming to prioritise American workers. There's also a growing backlash from MAGA supporters, who have often targeted the H1B visa, claiming it undermines American jobs and wages.
The fear of unemployment is affecting those waiting for visa renewals. Samaira Haji (name changed), a cybersecurity consultant in Los Angeles, is facing delays in her H1B visa sponsorship.
"Initially, the company promised to expedite the process (of sponsoring the H1B). But now they claim they are ‘waiting for clarity' on the potential visa reforms. The wait is agonising," she said.
Saniya, who moved from Nagpur to US in 2022 for her master's degree, is unsure of her future. "I was told they would register me for the H1B lottery in March 2025. But they haven't even initiated the preliminary stages of the process. Does it mean they are going to file for my H1B later, or are they going to just fire me if there is any major reform?" she wondered.
A woman from Telangana, who recently secured a position as a data analyst after an extended job search, now faces a new challenge as her company expresses uncertainty about sponsoring her visa.
"Now that I have finally secured a position as a data analyst, the uncertainty around the H1B visa has come to haunt me. I can't even think of facing the trauma of unemployment again," she said, preferring to remain anonymous.
Similarly, a software developer from Gujarat working in California, is feeling anxious despite holding a secure visa. His company recently announced workforce reductions, adding to his worries.
"The management hasn't stated categorically if these layoffs are linked to visa issues, but the timing is suspicious," he said, choosing to remain anonymous. "If we lose our job, we have to find another within 60 days to be able to continue staying here."
With unemployment at record levels and increasing uncertainties for Indian immigrants, he said finding a new job with H1B sponsorship within such a short period would be difficult. "It is terrifying to think that I could lose my job and my legal status in the US any moment," he said.
A senior immigration lawyer based in Georgia, speaking on condition of anonymity, elaborated on the broader implications. "Employers are hesitant to commit to international hires because the rules are in flux. They fear investing resources in sponsorships that might later face rejection or scrutiny. Unfortunately, it's the employees who have to bear the brunt of this uncertainty," the lawyer said.
