What Are Effects Of New H1B Rules? Good For India?

A large volume of the Indian immigration population has been travelling to the United States with work permit visa(H-1B). It had reached a point where this had become a mainstream Visa option for the Indian community to travel to the United States. But that is not going to be the case with the new regulations that are in effect.

Former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant has said that the U.S. decision to charge $100,000 per H-1B visa could be a big advantage for India.

He believes this move will slow down innovation in the U.S. but boost growth and opportunities in India. By making it more expensive for companies to hire foreign workers, the U.S. is encouraging skilled professionals to consider working in India instead.

Kant points out that Indian cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, and Gurugram could see increased activity in technology, research, and startups. He says that this could reverse the “brain drain,” with talented doctors, engineers, scientists, and innovators returning to India and contributing to its development.

According to him, this is a chance for India to leverage its skilled workforce to achieve its vision of a “Viksit Bharat” or Developed India.

The H-1B fee hike, effective from September 21, 2025, has raised concerns among Indian professionals in the U.S., as they form a large part of H-1B visa holders.

The policy’s stated goal is to ensure American workers are not replaced by foreign labor. While critics say it may harm U.S. innovation, Kant sees it as an opportunity for India to harness its human capital and drive economic growth, research, and entrepreneurship domestically.