H-1B Restrictions Risk Harming US Economy, Indiaspora Warns

A non-profit diaspora organization has warned that political efforts targeting H-1B visa holders and Indian-origin workers could create severe economic risks for the United States.

The advocacy group highlighted several proposed regulatory changes, including high petition fees for healthcare and technology employers, replacing the randomized visa lottery with a wage-weighted system, and eliminating the 60-day grace period for foreign workers who lose their jobs.

Additionally, the group flagged potential measures to freeze work authorization for H-4 spouses and introduce steep fees for graduates utilizing Optional Practical Training and STEM extensions.

Representatives from the organization noted that foreign talent, including educators and rural physicians, fills essential employment shortages that domestic hiring cannot resolve, warning that using foreign workers as political scapegoats could weaken both the American economy and US-India bilateral relations.