Sipu Jha
The HIRE Act seeks to raise the annual cap on H‑1B visas from the current 65,000 (plus 20,000 for advanced‑degree holders) to 130,000. The bill was reintroduced last month by Indian-origin Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi in response to growing demand for skilled workers in technology, research and other sectors.According to the proposal, the expansion would help American employers to fill talent gaps in crucial sectors like tech and defence. The bill also aims to invest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education in US schools and increase the number of H-1B visas available each year.Support for the HIRE Act comes from major industry bodies such as the ITServe Alliance — the largest association of IT‑services firms. They say that the current H1-B cap is outdated and insufficient to meet demand from fast‑growing sectors like AI, cloud computing and advanced engineering.
Could this bill pass — and is it plausible?
At face value, the HIRE Act offers a straightforward, numerical increase: double the cap. That simplicity works in its favour. But passing it into law isn’t guaranteed for several reasons:
- Political resistance: The H‑1B programme has been under heavy scrutiny recently. ‘America First’ citizens claim it is vulnerable to fraud, abuse, or that it unfairly competes with domestic workers and steals their jobs. The reintroduction of the HIRE Act comes even as there are fresh allegations of large‑scale fraud, especially in visa applications processed at Indian consulates.
- Legislative hurdles: Any change in immigration quota requires support from both houses of the US Congress, and agreement on immigration or labor reforms. Both party lines have deeply split opinions on immigration and it’s uncertain whether the amendment will even gather enough votes.
- Economic, labour‑market concerns: MAGA critics argue boosting the number of visas may suppress wages, hurt job opportunities for US‑born workers, and deepen dependence on foreign labour.
What it could mean for Indian applicants
India has traditionally supplied a large share of H‑1B visa holders. Under the proposed 130,000‑visa cap, demand from Indian professionals could find more favourable headroom.The bill could reportedly open 45,000–50,000 additional visas each year. This will significantly increases the probability of selection under the H‑1B lottery or reduce dependence on the lottery altogether.For Indian students currently on F‑1 visas, or recent graduates seeking H‑1B status, the increased quota could ease competition. For IT professionals and engineers hoping to migrate to the US, the proposal might offer greater clarity and opportunity compared with the existing tight cap and lengthy backlogs.However, nothing guarantees that approved extra slots would go only to Indian applicants. Employers in many countries may compete for those visas.
The H1-B row
Last month Donald Trump stirred a row by saying that the United States lacks enough domestic talent and will need skilled workers from abroad to fill roles in its leading universities and industries. This was seen as a betrayal to the ‘America First’ agenda by the MAGA base. The fallout was swift. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene resigned from Congress, Nikki Haley’s son emerged as one of the leading voices of the America First stance
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