US H-1B visa changes push high-value work to India’s GCCs
Changes to the US H-1B visa programme under President Donald Trump are driving high-value work from US offices to India’s global capability centres (GCCs), industry experts in Visakhapatnam said. They said the shift could strengthen India’s role in global innovation and boost services exports.
In September 2025, the US raised the cost of a new H-1B visa application to $100,000 from $2,000–$5,000. At the same time, US senators reintroduced legislation to tighten H-1B and L-1 visa rules, citing loopholes and misuse.
Experts said these changes may push US firms to relocate strategic work to India-based GCCs. Key areas include artificial intelligence, product development, cybersecurity, and analytics. This would reduce reliance on foreign workers in the US.
India hosts around 1,700 GCCs, more than half of the global total. These centres began as tech support hubs but have grown into high-value units handling finance, research, development, and product design.
“GCCs are uniquely positioned for this moment,” said K Srinivasan, IT expert. “They serve as a ready in-house engine for US firms reassessing workforce needs.”
Analysts added that lessons from the pandemic show key tech functions can be executed from anywhere. By 2030, India could host GCCs for over 2,200 companies, with a market size nearing $100 billion.
Some caution persists. Proposed US measures like the HIRE Act could impose a 25% tax on outsourcing work overseas. “Lost revenues from H-1B visa-reliant businesses could be partly replaced by higher services exports through GCCs,” said industry analysts. “US firms are looking for ways to bypass immigration restrictions.”