Last Updated:November 19, 2025, 11:38 IST
Though tech cities such as Bengaluru, Noida, Pune, remote work, start-up ecosystem are in India’s favour, salary, infra, and policy could be challenges. What companies are saying?
Remote work at global companies, joining or launching a deep-tech start-up in India, exploring a hybrid career, and negotiating the return smartly are some of the options for a tech professional working abroad.
For decades, the H-1B visa has been the dream ticket for thousands of Indian engineers, data scientists, and technology professionals aspiring to build careers in Silicon Valley, Seattle, and other US tech hubs. It symbolised opportunity, innovation, cutting-edge exposure, and above all — a global identity. But in recent months, the debate around H-1B visas has taken a surprising turn.
US President Donald Trump, who has long criticised immigration systems, recently admitted that the US “does not have people with certain talents » and must bring in foreign workers — sparking backlash from anti-immigration supporters and employers alike. At the same time, tech innovators like Elon Musk have called for expanding high-skilled immigration, arguing that limiting foreign tech talent is a direct threat to US innovation.
And amidst this policy confusion, something else is happening. A conversation is slowly emerging: Is this the time for Indian professionals to come back? Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu has openly urged Indian engineers working in Silicon Valley to consider homecoming, calling India the world’s “new emerging deep-tech frontier. » Some VCs are quietly pushing the same idea, that India could witness not just a brain drain, but a “brain gain ».
So, is this a historic moment for India? Will the H-1B uncertainty send thousands of skilled professionals back home? And if so, is India really ready to absorb them? Let’s explore
Where The H-1B Debate Stands, And What’s Actually Changing?
The H-1B visa was created to help US employers hire high-skilled foreign workers in sectors where domestic talent was insufficient, mostly in technology, engineering, medicine, and research. For years, Indian professionals have dominated the programme, making up nearly 75% of all H-1B visa holders.
But over time, the visa became politically sensitive, especially during economic slowdowns and elections. The US began tightening eligibility, scrutinizing worksite practices, and increasing denial rates. The focus shifted from “skills and innovation » to “protecting American jobs ».
Today, Washington’s position is completely split. One side wants to cut dependence on foreign workers; the other believes America’s innovation engine would collapse without global talent. That is why there are mixed signals — policy noise, lawsuits, and over 400,000 pending applications. Experts predict that future H-1B visas may be tied more closely to “strategic industries » like AI, quantum computing, defence technology, and advanced manufacturing.
This means fewer visas for routine IT services jobs, but possibly more opportunities for highly skilled AI and deep-tech professionals.
For Indians, this is both a risk and an opportunity.
Reverse Migration: A Moment Of Brain Drain, Or Brain Gain?
There are signs that a quiet movement has begun, though not in large numbers yet. If the early 2000s were the era of “brain drain, » today India might be witnessing the start of “brain circulation. »
“India’s start-up ecosystem and the rapid expansion of Global Capability Centers (GCCs) stand to benefit greatly from this reverse brain drain. Retained talent will drive increased innovation and fuel new growth sectors, provided we proactively address the foundational issues around compensation, capability-building, and culture, » Srividya Kannan, Founder-CEO of Bengaluru-based consulting firm Avaali Solutions, told News18. The company’s core expertise lies in manufacturing, life sciences, banking, and financial services.
Here’s what’s changing:
Indian-origin founders in the US are now building companies with core teams in India.Some Indian professionals on H-1B are choosing not to wait indefinitely for green cards.A new generation of remote workers is staying back and doing US jobs while living in India.Venture capitalist firms are actively funding start-ups led by US-returned tech talent in India.
From AI research labs in Bengaluru, drone technology in Hyderabad, health-tech in Gurugram, EV innovation in Pune, to semiconductor start-ups in Noida — the returnees are bringing back not just skills, but also start-up culture, product thinking, and Silicon Valley-style ambition.
However, it is important to note that this is not a mass reversal. Most H-1B professionals still prefer staying abroad if the opportunity exists. But what is different now is that India is no longer the “last-resort option ». It is fast emerging as a viable first option.
How India Could Benefit, And What Still Holds It Back
India today has the world’s youngest working population (over 65% of the Indian population is below 35 years), a growing digital economy, and one of the most vibrant start-up landscapes globally. But can it really absorb returning talent in a meaningful way? The answer lies somewhere in between.
What is in India’s favour?
Emerging Tech Cities: Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Gurugram, Noida, Pune, Chennai, and Kochi have evolved from outsourcing hubs to deep-tech and product hubs. They now host AI labs, semiconductor incubators, drone manufacturing units, health-tech clusters, and fintech unicorns.
Rise Of Remote Work & Global Collaboration: Thousands of Indian professionals now work remotely for US companies, from India. This trend accelerated after the pandemic and has made “global without relocating » a reality.
Government Push For Advanced Industries: India is investing in semiconductor manufacturing, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, aerospace, EV technology, and green hydrogen — sectors traditionally led by H-1B talent abroad.
Start-up Ecosystem Momentum: India has over 1,000 funded deep-tech start-ups and more than 110-118 unicorns. The presence of venture funds, accelerators, corporate incubators, and angel investors is stronger than ever.
What Are The Challenges?
Compensation & Career Growth: While India’s salaries are improving, they still lag behind US pay scales, especially for mid and senior-level tech professionals.
Work Culture Difference: Decision-making speed, innovation culture, and project ownership in many Indian companies are not yet as mature as US tech workplaces.
Infrastructure & Lifestyle Gap: Returnees often find the transition challenging, especially regarding public services, schooling, healthcare, and urban planning.
Policy Uncertainty: While incentives exist, India still lags in R&D tax benefits, patent support, and simpler regulations for high-tech start-ups.
The transformation is happening, but is not complete. India is ready to absorb returning talent, but only partially and selectively.
Kannan explained that the “real question » is not if students and professionals will stay, but “whether Indian companies will create an environment worthy of their talents. We must invest in R&D, offer competitive compensation, and create innovation-driven roles that match global standards. Our domestic companies must move with urgency to absorb and grow this returned talent pool. »
What Should Indian Professionals Consider?
If you are an H-1B talent or a tech professional working abroad or planning for opportunities, here are the key paths worth exploring.
Remote Work At Global Companies: Many US companies are now willing to hire Indian talent without relocating them. This is especially true for AI, data science, cybersecurity, and cloud computing roles. Join Or Open A Deep-Tech Start-Up In India: India’s start-up ecosystem is expanding rapidly, especially in sectors like drone tech, EVs, consumer AI, agritech, fintech, healthtech, and climate tech. Returning professionals with experience in Silicon Valley product building are in high demand. Look at Government-Backed Innovation Missions: India is actively promoting semiconductor manufacturing, AI centres of excellence, space-tech incubators, and bio-tech R&D. These projects need engineers, domain experts, policy thinkers, and returning global professionals. Explore Hybrid Careers: Universities, think-tanks, corporate innovation labs, and public policy institutes need professionals with multicultural exposure. Negotiating The ‘Return’ Smartly: Professionals returning from the US should focus on roles where they bring value beyond coding, such as product strategy, engineering architecture, global client management, and start-up scaling.
Thus, India may not always match US salaries, but it can offer purpose, leadership roles, entrepreneurship opportunities, and a chance to build something from scratch.
Is The Global Tech Race Shifting?
For decades, Silicon Valley was the unquestioned centre of innovation. But today, the equation is changing.
AI research is coming out of India, Israel, Japan, and Singapore, not just California.India is one of the fastest-growing markets for AI, cloud computing, fintech, and renewable technologies.Gulf countries are attracting Indian engineers with high-paying roles in gigafactories, aerospace, and clean energy.China, while slowing economically, remains a powerful manufacturing innovation hub.
In other words, talent is becoming truly global. The old model of “talented Indians go to Silicon Valley to innovate » is being replaced with a new reality: “talented Indians can innovate from anywhere. »
The world is entering an era of distributed innovation. If India plays its cards well, it could become one of the major innovation hubs of that era.
Interestingly, the H-1B debate is no longer just about visas. It is about where the future of innovation will be built, and who will build it.
India is no longer just a backup option. It is becoming a primary destination for ambitious professionals who want to build products, launch companies, or shape policy, rather than just write code.
The real question is whether India can turn uncertainty into opportunity and transform brain drain into brain gain?
Shilpy Bisht, Deputy News Editor at News18, writes and edits national, world and business stories. She started off as a print journalist, and then transitioned to online, in her 12 years of experience. Her prev…Read More
Shilpy Bisht, Deputy News Editor at News18, writes and edits national, world and business stories. She started off as a print journalist, and then transitioned to online, in her 12 years of experience. Her prev… Read More
November 19, 2025, 11:04 IST
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