U.S. Immigration Changes Put Indian Tech Workers’ Green Card Plans Under Pressure

The technology industry is already being reshaped by layoffs, cost-cutting measures and the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), making career changes and U.S. immigration planning more difficult.

Alternative U.S. Green Card Options Face Uncertainty

Some workers may qualify for U.S. green cards through routes that bypass the PERM labor certification process. These include categories for people who have demonstrated exceptional performance or whose work advances the national interest.

Applicants may also qualify for permanent residency by investing at least $800,000 in eligible U.S. companies.

However, Gurek warned that some of these immigration categories “could be the next targets.”

Chotani said some people are considering the EB-5 investor route because they want to remain in the United States, but may not have enough capital to make the required investment.

Nearly 1 Million Indians Await Employment-Based Green Cards

According to the National Foundation for Policy Studies (NFAP), nearly 1 million Indian citizens were waiting for employment-based green cards as of December 2025. They represented 79% of all pending applications.

The NFAP report predicts that wait times for highly skilled Indians filing labor certification or employment-based immigration applications after January 2026 could range from five to 179 years, depending on the visa category.

PERM Suspension Could Face Legal Challenges

Like other recent immigration measures, the suspension of PERM could be challenged in federal court. Taken together, these moves signal a tougher environment for people who want to study, work and settle in the United States.

Previously, the Trump administration imposed a $100,000 fee on certain new H-1B visa applications. A federal court later struck down the measure.

The administration also recently proposed a $70,000 fee for universities that recommend international students to programs allowing graduates to work in the country after completing their studies.

Immigration Policies Could Push More Tech Jobs Offshore

“This trend is not going to change anytime soon,” said an Indian expert who recently transitioned to H-1B status after a “long wait” in an interview with the BBC. The expert spoke on condition of anonymity.

He said Republicans and Democrats agree that immigration reform is needed, even though they disagree on how to achieve it.

Some studies have suggested that the regulations could cause jobs to move to India rather than go to American workers. Industry observers have also reported an increase in companies offshoring work.

“Companies benefit from cost arbitrage when moving work offshore, and there has also been increased acceptance and appreciation of remote work from clients since COVID-19,” said the technology executive quoted above.

U.S. Demand for Indian Technology Talent Remains

Experts believe the U.S. appetite for Indian technology talent is unlikely to disappear. What may change is how companies use that talent.

For Indian technology professionals, that could mean rewriting the script for building a future in the United States.