US President Donald Trump’s steep H-1B visa fee hike to $100,000 has left Indian technology professionals rethinking their plans, creating opportunities for countries like Germany, the UK, and Canada to attract highly skilled talent. With the US tightening its skilled immigration policies, Indian tech workers are exploring alternative destinations offering predictable and welcoming frameworks.
Vijay Thirulamai, a global mobility and wealth technology expert, reported that his organisation submitted 12 EB5 investment-based applications and nine O1 visa requests for individuals with exceptional abilities over the past five days. Seven families previously considering EB1A applications have shifted to EB5, while seven business founders expressed interest in Canada’s Startup Visa programme.
Germany has been proactive in inviting Indian professionals. Philipp Ackermann, Germany’s ambassador to India and Bhutan, said in a video message: “Highly skilled Indians are welcome in Germany. It’s reliable, it is modern, it is predictable,” highlighting the country’s stable migration system.
In Canada, policy proposals suggest attracting 120,000 US H-1B professionals earning C$200,000 or more could generate $30 billion in economic activity, a 1% boost to GDP. Recommendations include creating dedicated work permits for US H-1B holders, allowing them to reside in Canada while maintaining US employment, provided they meet a minimum salary and three-year employment requirement. Companies like Wise and Neo Financial are offering positions with visa sponsorship to support this transition.
The UK is also positioning itself as a hub for Indian talent. Dom Hallas of the Startup Coalition recommended expanding the Global Talent Fund to support engineers and founders affected by US policy, while streamlining relocation processes and offering competitive equity packages under the Enterprise Management Incentive scheme. Companies in London, such as AI startup Cleo and CRM firm Attio, are offering 100+ roles with full visa sponsorship, targeting professionals in AI and other tech sectors.
China, meanwhile, announced a K-visa scheme beginning 1 October, aimed at international STEM professionals, potentially including Indian applicants.
“Countries like Germany and Canada are actively capitalising on this situation, rolling out welcoming immigration policies to attract these highly sought-after professionals,” said Rohit Jain, managing partner at Singhania & Co. “This trend could see a significant shift of Indian engineering talent to these more receptive countries. India should respond with compelling incentives, including research grants and startup support.”
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