Trump’s H-1B Visa Crackdown to Accelerate Shift of US Firms’ High-End Work to India
US President Donald Trump’s steep hike in H-1B visa application fees to $100,000 has prompted American companies to reassess their labour strategies, with India emerging as the biggest beneficiary. Economists and industry leaders say the move will turbocharge the growth of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India, which already hosts 1,700 such centres—more than half the global total. Once focused on tech support, these hubs now drive innovation in areas ranging from financial services to drug discovery.
Industry insiders note that tightening visa rules are pushing firms to relocate high-value work in artificial intelligence, product development, cybersecurity, and analytics to India. “GCCs are uniquely positioned for this moment. They serve as a ready in-house engine,” said Rohan Lobo, partner and GCC industry leader at Deloitte India, adding that US companies with federal exposure are already shifting mandates. FedEx, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Target, and Lowe’s are among those expanding their GCC presence, according to ANSR founder Lalit Ahuja.
While the trend signals a “gold rush” for India, experts caution that proposed measures like the HIRE Act—which could impose a 25% tax on outsourcing—may complicate gains. Still, analysts believe India’s $283-billion IT industry, contributing nearly 8% of GDP, will benefit as lost revenues from H-1B-reliant businesses are offset by rising GCC-led exports. With projections of over 2,200 GCCs in India by 2030 and a market size nearing $100 billion, the shift marks a decisive turn in global labour distribution.
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