The United States’ decision to replace the long-standing H-1B visa lottery with a wage-weighted selection mechanism has triggered sharp reactions from India’s technology industry, with Nasscom warning that the shift raises legal, economic and operational concerns. Indian professionals form a large share of H-1B visa holders, making the issue particularly sensitive for India’s technology sector. Nasscom said that if a wage-weighted approach is pursued, a phased rollout with adequate lead time would be “essential”. Nasscom reiterated that the changes represent a departure from the neutral lottery system and raise questions that go beyond policy intent. Limiting entry-level opportunities through a wage-weighted system could weaken this pipeline, Nasscom warned.

Source: The Telegraph December 24, 2025 18:35 UTC