H-1B fee hike could boost India GCC hiring

The US Department of Homeland Security has proposed a $103,265 fee for new H-1B work visa petitions, a dramatic increase from current costs. This could prompt US companies to reconsider moving talent to America and instead expand technology teams in India, particularly in the country's 1,700+ Global Capability Centres (GCCs) that employ nearly 1.9 million professionals. Industry experts like Mastek's CHRO suggest roles in software engineering, AI, cloud, and data are most likely to be expanded in India, while customer-proximity roles remain in the US. The shift could accelerate the trend of 'moving work to India' rather than 'moving workers to the US', benefiting tech hubs like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune. Key signal: US DHS proposes $103,265 fee for new H-1B petitions, potentially generating $8.8B annually and pushing more tech work to India's 1,700+ GCCs. For hiring leaders, this matters because for CHROs and GCC leaders, this signals a potential surge in demand for India-based tech talent, especially in AI, cloud, and data roles. The proposed fee could make India GCCs even more attractive for global firms, leading to increased hiring and expansion in Tier-1 cities. It also underscores the strategic importance of building robust India teams to mitigate US immigration costs. Leaders should prepare for possible talent competition and consider proactive workforce planning to capitalize on this shift. Teksands view: This is a classic case of policy driving talent strategy. The $103K fee is a game-changer that could accelerate the GCC boom. Smart companies will already be modeling the cost-benefit of moving work to India versus H-1B sponsorship. For hiring leaders, this means doubling down on India-centric talent pipelines, especially in AI and cloud, and being ready for increased competition for top talent in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune. The 'move the work, not the worker' mantra is about to get a lot louder.