India backs H-1B visa scheme, calls it key to US partnership
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India on Friday defended the H-1B visa programme, calling it a pillar of its ties with the United States.
The defence came as the programme face renewed criticism in American political circles.
At the weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted the scheme’s importance.
“The mobility partnership between India and the United States is an important pillar of our relationship. It supports technology collaboration, economic collaboration, innovation, emerging technologies, and financial cooperation. We value it, as it brings mutual benefit to both sides,” he said.
Jaiswal noted that the visa had opened doors for skilled Indian professionals while also boosting US competitiveness. He underlined that New Delhi continued discussions with Washington on mobility concerns.
The H-1B visa allows American firms to employ foreign professionals in specialised areas such as engineering and technology. More than 70% of these visas go to Indians each year.
The issue is unfolding against a tense backdrop in bilateral trade. Washington recently imposed tariffs of up to 50% on Indian imports.
In the US, the programme has again become a political flashpoint. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick have both branded the scheme a “scam” that hurts American workers.
The Donald Trump administration has also indicated plans for reforms. A wage-based system could replace the current lottery process by March 2026.
The debate reflects wider divisions within the MAGA camp. Before Trump’s inauguration, billionaire Elon Musk argued that the US needed the “top 0.1%” of global engineering talent to remain competitive. Former Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy also supported high-skilled immigration, saying America was “venerating mediocrity over excellence.”
Their views, however, clashed with MAGA hardliners, who believe H-1B visas undercut US workers.
Trump himself struck a different note, describing H-1B as “a great programme,” despite earlier vows to restrict it.
An Axios report this week pointed out that the debate in Washington is increasingly framed not just in economic terms but as part of a larger cultural confrontation with India, alongside disputes over tariffs.