Overview
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio told India Today that the recent changes to U.S. work‑visa rules are global in scope and not aimed at India, and he said the measures seek to prioritise American workers.
- U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor echoed Rubio’s message, saying the shift is part of a broader U.S. immigration reset that affects many countries rather than singling out India.
- On October 9 the U.S. Labor Department suspended Permanent Labor Certification processing for major firms including Cognizant, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL, Capgemini, Microsoft, and Adobe, citing active federal investigations.
- Policy changes now include ending automatic renewal deference for H‑1B extensions, extending offshore filing and entry restrictions, proposing a large fee for certain petitions, and moving toward a wage‑weighted lottery that prioritises higher paid roles.
- The measures have created immediate uncertainty for Indian tech workers and outsourcing firms that rely on H‑1B and PERM pathways, and U.S. investigations and potential legal challenges are likely to determine how long the restrictions last and how companies adapt.