Washington. For Indian IT professionals who dream of working in America, once again worrying news is coming to the fore. It is reported that Trump administration is making big preparations regarding H-1B visa. Under this, the rules will now be made more strict. It is being said that H-1B visa can also be abolished forever. Not only this, a warning about handcuffs has also come from America.

US Labor Department Inspector General Anthony D'Esposito has recently indicated this. In a postcast, he warned that the face of the H-1B visa system will be completely changed in the next 365 days and that strict legal action is being taken against fraudulent employers.

Shock to Indian tech professionals

Any impact on the H-1B visa program has a direct impact on Indian citizens. Indian professionals alone account for more than 70 percent of the total H-1B visa holders working in American IT companies, tech sector and corporate world. If America stops this program completely, then it will be a big blow to the careers of thousands of Indian tech professionals, Indian students studying in America and the youth preparing to go there. At the same time, for Indians already present in America, new obstacles may arise in the path of visa renewal and green card.

The whole rule will change in 365 days

In an interview with American commentator and YouTuber Benny Johnson, Inspector General Anthony D'Esposito clarified the situation regarding America's strategy. He said that the investigating officers have clearly indicated that they are preparing to register criminal cases and arrest those involved in fraud in the name of visas and fraud through shell companies. “I think the foreign labor visa program will look completely different 365 days from today,” D'Esposito said. He said that the US government is investigating serious allegations like fraud, exploitation of employees and human trafficking to the H-1B visa program.

Big companies on target

Investigative agencies have started taking action against big companies involved in irregularities in the recruitment of foreign employees. Earlier, due to criminal investigation, H-1B visa applications to tech giants Cognizant and Cloudera have been currently suspended. According to the US Department of Labor, investigating officers have issued dozens of subpoenas and conducted search warrants at several locations.

What is Project Firewall?

Many new rules are being implemented in America to give priority to the jobs of American citizens instead of foreign professionals. In September 2025, the US government came up with Project Firewall. The main objective of this project is to protect the wages, rights, and job opportunities of highly skilled American workers, so that employers hire qualified Americans first instead of giving preference to foreign workers.

Apart from this, the Trump administration has instructed the Departments of Labor, Homeland Security and State that while reviewing the H-1B application of any company, it must be checked whether that company has recently laid off American employees working in the same position. Along with this, America has extended the ban on entry of some special visa holders into America under H-1B visa category till September 21, 2027.

What is H-1B visa and its quota?

H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa, through which American companies hire foreign skilled workers specializing in IT and other technical fields. Under US law, only 65,000 new H-1B visas are issued each fiscal year. At the same time, an additional quota of 20,000 is set for foreign students who have obtained Master's or PhD degrees from higher educational institutions of America.