In a major relief for Indian tech professionals working in the United States, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has clarified its recently announced immigration policy, indicating that existing H-1B visa holders are likely to continue on their current path without immediate disruption.
The clarification came after concerns were raised over the Trump administration’s latest directive, which states that most people seeking green cards would now have to apply for permanent residency from outside the US through embassies or consulates abroad, “except in extraordinary circumstances.”
Amid growing anxiety among H-1B workers, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) told Semafor that high-skilled workers and current H-1B holders may not be directly impacted for now. According to the agency, the policy is mainly intended to “restate and reassert” its interpretation of congressional intent regarding immigration status changes.
The USCIS spokesperson reportedly stated that applicants providing economic benefits or serving national interests would likely be allowed to continue under the existing process, while others may still be asked to apply from abroad depending on individual circumstances.
The development sparked reactions across the tech industry. Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, criticised the move on social media platform X, calling it harmful for technology, business, and the United States overall. He questioned whether AI researchers, employees, and students would now have to leave the country and wait through lengthy backlogs before continuing their work.
Officials, however, defended the policy, saying it is intended to ensure the immigration system functions “as the law intended” instead of encouraging loopholes.
Although uncertainties around H-1B processing remain, a USCIS memo reportedly noted that applying for adjustment of status is not inconsistent with maintaining non-immigrant status under categories that allow dual intent. At the same time, the memo clarified that lawful participation in the program alone would not automatically guarantee favourable discretion.
Meanwhile, Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, announced a new “America First” visa schedule aimed at prioritising business professionals. Speaking during the inauguration ceremony of the US Embassy Support Annex Building in New Delhi, Rubio described India as a key partner in the US Indo-Pacific strategy and said the new visa framework would strengthen business and professional ties between the two countries.
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