NASSCOM president Rajesh Nambiar on H-1B visa fee hike: Good news is that we have …

Recent changes to the America’s H-1B visa programme are unlikely to significantly disrupt large Indian IT services companies, despite initial industry concerns, Nasscom president Rajesh Nambiar told The Economic Times. Nambiar said that major companies have already reduced dependence on H-1B visas over the years through increased local hiring in the United States. He also welcomed a clarification that international students in the U.S. on Optional Practical Training (OPT) extensions will be exempt from a proposed $100,000 visa fee.

Another proposed shift — prioritising specialised, high-salary roles in the annual H-1B lottery — could raise visa costs, but the overall impact on IT services exporters will be “very minimal,” he said. Companies will continue to use H-1Bs for niche roles, he added, noting that the one-year window before the 2026 lottery gives firms time to ramp up domestic hiring.