India Eyes Reverse Brain Drain Amid US H-1B Fee Hike
Experts warn that attracting skilled Indian professionals back home will require targeted outreach and structural reforms as US visa policies tighten.
US H-1B Fee Hike Spurs Calls for Reverse Migration
The US government’s sudden increase of the H-1B visa fee to USD 100,000 has prompted Indian policymakers to encourage skilled professionals abroad to return home. Officials close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi argue the hike gives India an opportunity to attract global talent who have built careers overseas.
Returnee Experiences
Among the first to make the leap is Bengaluru-based entrepreneur Nithin Hassan. After two decades in the US, he left his executive role at Meta to launch startups in India, including B2I (Back to India), which assists non-resident Indians in planning their return.
“My US visa status limited my entrepreneurial freedom,” Hassan told INLIBER. He reports a threefold rise in inquiries from professionals seeking to relocate since the latest policy changes.
Employer Demand and Global Capability Centres
Recruiters at top US universities also note a shift. “Applications from Indian graduates to return after studies have jumped by 30%,” says Shivani Desai, CEO of BDO Executive Search. Senior executives, she adds, are rethinking long-term US careers.
Multinational companies’ Global Capability Centres in India now offer attractive roles that combine local growth with international best practices. Franklin Templeton highlights these centres as key destinations for talent if onshore opportunities in the US decline.
Policy Gaps and Recommendations
However, experts caution that simply hoping professionals will return is insufficient. “India needs a targeted outreach led at the highest level,” says Sanjaya Baru, former media adviser to India’s prime minister and author of Secession of the Successful. He points to post-independence efforts that brought top scientists back to form institutes like the Indian Institute of Science.
Long-standing push factors—bureaucracy, complex tax laws and poor infrastructure—must be addressed alongside incentives such as start-up visas and enhanced R&D investment. The government’s own data show over 500,000 Indians have given up citizenship since 2020, and many millionaires are seeking residency abroad.
Experts agree that without a structured outreach and fundamental reforms, India cannot convert global mobility trends into a sustained reverse brain drain.
This topic was reported by BBC.
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