Elon Musk has publicly supported H-1B visas, arguing the United States has benefited greatly from talented Indians working in America. His remarks land as Washington ramps up a crackdown aimed at limiting H-1B abuse, a program heavily used by US tech firms. Indian professionals, including engineers and physicians, are among the largest H-1B groups.
India received 71% of the 399,395 H-1B visas issued in 2024, making it the biggest beneficiary by far. Now, sharply higher H-1B fees are raising alarms for roughly 400,000 Indian IT professionals whose visas may not be renewed, potentially forcing employers to rethink hiring plans and costs.
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Tesla chief Elon Musk discusses tariffs, H-1B visas, and his unusual involvement with the newly referenced Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) during Nikhil Kamath’s podcast. Musk calls it an “interesting side quest” that exposed how US government works. He also says he attempted to persuade Donald Trump that tariffs could harm the economy, but wasn’t successful.
US President Donald Trump is taking a pragmatic turn on H-1B visas, now backing the hiring of skilled foreign workers to strengthen American high-tech industries. The policy shift seeks to address persistent labor shortages that could hurt competitiveness. Trump also expects backlash from his political base but says global talent is increasingly necessary to keep US firms moving.
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