H-1B Visa Reforms Ease Concerns; U.S. Campus Hiring Set to Rise

Recent changes in the U.S. H-1B visa policy are easing fears among employers, particularly benefiting companies hiring foreign graduates from American universities. According to a report, the new rule — which waives the $100,000 fee for applicants already residing in the U.S., including foreign students — is expected to make recruitment from domestic campuses more attractive.

While the announcement initially caused unease in the technology sector, experts say the practical impact will be limited. The majority of professionals currently on H-1B visas are unlikely to be affected. Instead, analysts believe the policy shift could encourage firms to focus on hiring locally within the United States rather than depending on large-scale employee transfers from overseas.

For Indian IT companies, which traditionally relied on moving workers from India to the U.S. under the H-1B programme, the change reinforces a trend already underway — reducing visa dependency by hiring more local talent and developing near-shore delivery centres in regions such as Latin America.

Industry observers describe the reform as a move from “volume-driven” to “value-driven” hiring, with an emphasis on attracting high-skilled professionals, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, software engineering, and domain-specific technologies.

The revision also brings a positive outlook for international students studying in the U.S. With the exemption in place, employers will face lower costs in hiring graduates on student (F-1) visas transitioning to H-1B status, potentially increasing job opportunities for them.

Overall, the reform signals a shift in the U.S. approach to skilled immigration — one that prioritises talent already present within its borders while encouraging global tech firms to adapt through local hiring, advanced skill development, and innovation-led workforce strategies.