India’s tech workforce is rethinking the long-held “dream abroad” as H-1B visa fees spike under new U.S. policy changes that industry leaders say are reshaping both company hiring plans and personal career paths. Sidd Ahmed, CEO and Founder of VDart Group, said in an interview with ANI that the cost surge is pushing many professionals to see India as the place to build their future, not just a launchpad to the United States.
“It also impacts the 65,000 people who actually had the aspiration to go to the U.S. and build a dream there. … The dream is happening right here in India,” Ahmed said, noting a clear shift in mindset as global firms scale up in India through growing global capability centres (GCCs) and offshore delivery units.
How the economics changed
Ahmed traced that shift through the past two decades. In the early years, he recalled, H‑1B sponsorship costs were modest—about USD 110 for employers—while the program grew into a reliable tool for moving junior and mid‑level engineers to U.S. teams. That pipeline also drew criticism in some American mid‑level job markets.
Now the economics look very different. Under the latest policy approach, companies could face a USD 100,000 annual fee layered on top of standard processing and vetting expenses. That price tag is changing the basic math for assignments in the U.S., and with it the appetite to send talent overseas.
Impact on global delivery models
Industry watchers say this isn’t just about a higher bill. It’s about how companies design their global delivery models.
- Rising H-1B visa fees encourage firms to staff more projects from India, where teams can work directly with product and business leaders through strong remote setups and on‑the‑ground GCCs.
- Analysis by VisaVerge.com indicates the fee shock will hit startups and mid‑sized U.S. employers hardest, while larger corporations may absorb costs or reposition work to offshore models already in place.
Ahmed expects a wave of “reverse ambition” among Indian professionals who once planned to depart for the U.S. but now see meaningful careers at home. Roles once tied to a U.S. location can now be executed in India by teams with similar skill depth and better time‑zone coverage for global operations.
Cities benefitting include:
- Bangalore
- Hyderabad
- Pune
- A widening ring of tier‑2 cities
These locations stand to gain as companies expand lab space, training centers, and leadership tracks to keep pace with rising domestic demand.
Political and historical context
The fee story also has political echoes. Over time, costs in the H‑1B program rose from the low hundreds to several thousand dollars in standard and supplemental charges. During the tenure of President Trump, a steep increase—cited by industry sources as a $100,000 annual fee—marked the sharpest jump in the program’s history.
While large U.S. employers may find workarounds, the mid‑market could pull back on sponsorships for roles that are practical to run offshore. That pullback could reduce new H‑1B entries and slow the traditional flow of Indian tech talent into the U.S., even as India’s IT services and product ecosystems keep growing with the support of GCCs.
Advice for Indian professionals and companies
For Indian workers, the practical takeaway is clear: chase roles that reward depth and decision‑making rather than location alone. Ahmed urges professionals to:
- Build leadership skills
- Deepen domain knowledge
- Push into AI and product development — areas that travel well across borders
For companies, every U.S. posting will need a return‑on‑investment check against the new fee structure. Some assignments will still make sense; many will not.
Regional benefits and corporate responses
Ahmed’s remarks underscore how regional tech hubs inside India benefit from the new reality. As more professionals choose India over the U.S., employers are doubling down on local growth. That means not only hiring but also investment in:
- Infrastructure
- Cross‑functional training
- Executive pathways that used to require an onsite U.S. rotation
With that shift, the old model—get an H‑1B, move stateside, climb the ladder—is giving way to a more balanced plan where top‑tier careers can be built without leaving home.
Wider risks and the H‑1B cap
Policy watchers in the U.S. warn of another consequence: if sponsorship costs remain high, America could lose some edge in STEM by making it harder for smaller firms to bring in specialized talent. Some Silicon Valley leaders have voiced concern that sustained fee pressure could push more work abroad.
Ahmed’s comments suggest that process is already in motion, and that India is ready to receive it.
The program’s annual numerical cap also matters for expectations. Ahmed referenced the 65,000 figure—long familiar to Indian applicants—as a symbol of the lottery’s bottleneck and the hopes attached to it. When the path narrows further due to costs, many would‑be applicants are choosing not to enter the race at all. Instead, they’re seeking senior roles in India, applying to GCCs, and building careers that no longer depend on a U.S. relocation.
Official guidance and employer considerations
While employers and workers adjust, official rules continue to live on U.S. government pages. Readers can find the core framework of the H‑1B category, including eligibility basics and process steps, on the USCIS H‑1B overview.
Companies weighing petitions against the prospect of a $100,000 annual charge will stack those rules against their budgets and delivery plans, deciding which roles must be onsite and which can remain in India.
Five practical moves for the near term
Indian firms and employees are focusing on five practical moves:
- Evaluate the business case for each U.S. assignment under the new fee landscape, and say no when costs outweigh returns.
- Strengthen professional networks inside India’s fast‑growing tech scene rather than relying on a single dream abroad path.
- Upskill toward leadership, AI, and product management — the areas most protected from location‑based cuts.
- Explore the booming GCC market across India, where global brands are building long‑term platforms.
- Stay alert to shifts in visa policy and any legal challenges that could change timelines or implementation.
“India is not just a supplier of global tech talent anymore. It’s an end destination for high‑aspiration careers, with compensation, projects, and leadership scope to match.” — Sidd Ahmed, VDart
Ahmed’s broader message is that India is not just a supplier of global tech talent anymore. It’s an end destination for high‑aspiration careers, with compensation, projects, and leadership scope to match. That doesn’t close the door to the U.S. — instead, it opens more than one door and gives professionals leverage to choose the best one for their families and goals.
In that sense, the H‑1B fee spike is both a cost and a signal. It tells companies to think hard about where work gets done, and it tells Indian professionals that the path to impact — and to leadership — may be closer to home than they thought.
This Article in a Nutshell
New U.S. policy proposals and fee spikes for H-1B visas—potentially adding a USD 100,000 annual charge on top of standard costs—are prompting a strategic rethink among Indian tech workers and employers. VDart CEO Sidd Ahmed notes the added expense weakens the business case for many U.S. assignments, accelerating investments in India’s global capability centres and offshore delivery models. Cities such as Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune are set to gain jobs, infrastructure, and leadership tracks as companies assign more work locally. The shift affects roughly 65,000 hopeful applicants under the H-1B cap and encourages professionals to upskill in leadership, AI, and product roles. While large firms might absorb costs or find workarounds, startups and mid-market employers will feel the strain most, potentially reducing new H-1B entries and reinforcing India as a destination for high-aspiration careers.
