H-1B No Longer Golden Ticket? Indian Techies Think Twice About U.S. Migration as Costs Rise

The highly sought-after H-1B visa pathway is fast becoming less attractive for Indian IT workers, as rocketing rents, flat salaries, and expensive living are making the American dream cost-prohibitive. Chartered Accountant Nitin Kaushik cautions that moving to the U.S. is increasingly investment rather than returns, making many rethink their career choices.

 

Key Highlights:

 

✅ Housing Crisis: The median U.S. rent has jumped to $2,174 for single-family residences, rendering it unaffordable for most H-1B holders.

✅ Salary vs. Expenses: The required minimum wage for H-1B employees is $60,000, but median salaries are around $51,000, which does not meet basic living expenses.

✅ Challenges to Tech Hub Cities: Places like San Francisco, New York, and Seattle favored by Indian techies charge over $3,000 for rents, causing several to be sharing apartments or even moving elsewhere.

✅ Impact of Tariff & Inflation: Tariffs on building material has eased out the development in housing construction and is instead contributing to rent inflation.

✅ Shifting Ambitions: Most Indian professionals are reconsidering migrating, opting instead for telework or moving into India's booming tech sector.

 

With reduced financial gains, the H-1B visa is no longer the surefire route to success it used to be, causing a significant shift in migration patterns.

 

Source: Economic Times, Business Today, Economic Times