Mumbai: Indian IT majors—Infosys, TCS, Wipro, and HCL Tech—are bracing for potential turbulence as the U.S. considers a steep hike in H-1B visa fees. The proposed change threatens to increase labor costs for thousands of employees working on onsite projects in America, which remains the single-largest revenue contributor for these companies.
Industry experts note that a rise in visa expenses would not only pressure profit margins but could also slow down project staffing, particularly for long-term contracts in banking, healthcare, and retail technology sectors. Several analysts believe that while the fundamentals of Indian IT remain strong, the near-term outlook could see uncertainty, with foreign institutional investors turning cautious.
The move comes at a time when global demand for IT services is already muted due to tightening corporate technology budgets. For Indian IT, which employs millions and is a major export earner, the implications could be wide-ranging—from workforce adjustments to pricing renegotiations with U.S. clients.