Amid H-1B uncertainty and layoffs, immigration experts say demand for L-1 and O-1 visas has gone up as they do not have ...
Indian professionals and their employers are increasingly exploring alternatives to H-1B visas, such as L-1 and O-1 visas, amid stricter scrutiny of H-1B applications and ongoing tech layoffs in the US, according to immigration experts cited by the Economic Times. Demand for EB-5 immigrant investor visas has also surged, with a 50% increase since January 2025, noted Sukanya Raman, country head - India & GCC practice team at Davies & Associates LLC. 'These are in current status for Indian nationals, meaning visas are available, and they can receive authorization and travel documents in 3-6 months,' she told ET, highlighting their appeal for Indian families on H-1B visas whose children are nearing 21 and at risk of aging out.
USCIS data shows a 27% year-on-year drop in shortlisted H-1B visa applications this year, the lowest since FY21, with the US approving 85,000 H-1B visas annually, of which Indians secure about 70%. The new Trump administration's tightened H-1B scrutiny since early 2025, combined with layoffs at tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and Intel, has heightened anxiety among Indian professionals.
'Our clients are more fearful, especially about international travel and visa 'stamping' at consular posts abroad,' Joel Yanovich, an attorney at Murthy Law Firm, told the publication. 'I don't think a day goes by without clients asking if it's safe to travel.'
This has driven demand for L-1 visas (for intracompany transfers) and O-1 visas (for individuals with extraordinary abilities in fields like science, arts, or business), which lack the annual caps of H-1B visas. 'Part of this spike is seasonal, tied to those not selected in the H-1B lottery, but it also reflects employers and individuals aiming to avoid anticipated H-1B scrutiny,' Yanovich said.
Some companies are transferring employees to countries like Canada temporarily to qualify for L-1 visas, which can lead to EB-1C green cards for managers, Raman explained. Others are pursuing EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) visas for those with advanced degrees working in the US national interest, she added.
Gnanamookan Senthurjothi, a US immigration attorney, told ET that the number of people seeking assistance for these visa options has risen in recent months.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
27 minutes ago
- Mint
The nationalization of Intel?
The Trump Administration is reportedly negotiating to take a 10% stake in Intel Corp., in what would amount to a de facto nationalization of the storied but struggling semiconductor firm. Does President Trump really believe that the same government that has so mismanaged air-traffic control can turn around the chip-making giant? News reports say the Trump team is looking to take an equity stake in Intel in return for funding for the company promised under the 2022 Chips Act. This is how industrial policy so often works in practice. Step one: Subsidize a struggling business. Step two: When subsidies aren't enough, nationalize it. Step three: Make sure it never fails. Former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger lobbied hard for the Chips Act subsidies to support his expensive bet on expanding U.S. manufacturing to compete with TSMC and Samsung. But unlike most semiconductor companies, Intel both designs and manufacturers chips and it has fallen behind in both. Its chips have been plagued by quality problems, while its enormous investment and focus on manufacturing hasn't helped its ability to compete in AI chip design with Nvidia and others. The Biden Administration tried to ride to the rescue last year with up to $8.5 billion in direct grant funding and $11 billion in low-cost loans for Intel from the Chips Act. But as always with government largesse, it came with political strings attached. The Commerce Department press release touted in great detail Intel's plans to expand child care for its workers. Scant mention of its plans to improve manufacturing. Most of Intel's award hasn't been disbursed because the company has slowed its expansion plans amid weak demand for its chips. Biden Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo tried to drum up demand from tech companies but found few takers. Intel ran a $18.8 billion loss last year and $3.8 billion during the first six months of this year. Such losses aren't financially sustainable. The company cut 15,000 jobs last year and plans to slash more than 20,000 this year. The chip-maker has also been spinning off businesses, though the Biden team restricted its ability to sell off its foundries. Enter the Trump Administration, which may further expand the government's role in managing Intel. Mr. Trump criticized current CEO Lip-Bu Tan some weeks ago and said he should resign. Mr. Tan visited the White House, the President then praised the CEO, and word then leaked of the possible government stake. Details of that potential investment are vague, but you can bet the feds wouldn't be passive investors. Intel's stock rallied last week on the news, perhaps because investors figure the company will now be too big to fail. They're probably right. Once the government acquires a stake in Intel, the politicians will have an incentive to keep pouring on subsidies so they wouldn't have to admit a mistake. At the same time, the Administration's conditions for the equity investment may also make it harder for Intel to undertake needed changes to become more competitive. Politicians don't like to preside over plant closures or employee layoffs. See Renault, the French car maker, for that political lesson. The Intel stake, if it happens, would be one more Trump Administration dive into directing private business. In return for approving Nippon Steel's acquisition of U.S. Steel, the Administration demanded a 'golden share" that gives the government a veto over plant closures and layoffs, among other things. In return for letting Nvidia and AMD export computer chips to China, the White House insisted on getting a 15% cut of the revenue. This is corporate statism, and rarely does it end well. Political control hamstrings innovation and investment as managers look to their government overlords for approval. See the antiquated air-traffic control system, which Canada has shown could be better managed by a private operator. Or consider Amtrak, which has struggled to end money-losing routes owing to opposition from Members of Congress in rural areas. Good luck to Intel under government influence. The company will need it.
Mint
27 minutes ago
- Mint
Nifty 50's decade-long rally faces valuation risks, said Equirus; picks 28 large and midcap stocks
Indian equities have delivered one of the strongest multi-year rallies globally, with the Nifty 50 climbing from around 8,400 in December 2014 to over 26,000 by September 2024, despite multiple corrections. According to Equirus Securities, this surge has been fueled by resilient domestic demand, aggressive policy support, and robust corporate earnings. Yet, with valuations well above historical averages, the brokerage stresses that sustaining momentum will hinge on consistent earnings delivery. Equirus noted that the index weathered the 2015–16 slowdown, the March 2020 COVID crash near 8,000, and the 2022 global tightening-led pullback. Post-pandemic, the rally was driven by fundamentals — India's five-year EPS CAGR of ~18% is the highest globally, while ROE has averaged ~15%, second only to the US. However, valuations now exceed long-term bands, reflecting rich pricing for future growth. Going ahead, the brokerage believes that near-term leadership is expected to shift toward largecaps and quality midcaps, while smallcaps face stretched valuations. Auto, Cement, NBFCs, and FMCG are among Equirus' overweight calls, while sectors such as Building Materials, Industrials, and Defense remain underweight. Equirus flagged caution on smallcaps, pointing out that the Nifty Smallcap 100 trades at a significant premium to its 10-year +1 standard deviation, despite earnings cyclicality that makes them vulnerable in risk-off phases. Midcaps, though also trading above historical multiples, enjoy stronger earnings visibility thanks to sectoral tailwinds and balance sheet improvements. Largecaps, while not cheap, remain closer to their long-term bands and offer a better margin of safety. Equirus highlighted that smallcap forward P/E stands at 1.25x vs. its long-term average of 0.88x, close to peak valuations, while Nifty 50 itself trades above its 10-year average. With CY25 EPS forecasts cut by 13.8% — the steepest since the pandemic — the brokerage advises a barbell approach: favoring largecaps for safety, selective midcaps for structural growth, and caution in smallcaps until earnings catch up. Equirus' top 28 stock picks span across largecaps, midcaps, and smallcaps. Largecap ideas: ABB India, BPCL, Cholamandalam Investment, Godrej Consumer, HDFC Bank, Infosys, JSPL, Ultratech Cement. Mid- and small-cap ideas: AB Real Estate, Alkem Labs, Arvind Fashions, Avalon Tech, Berger Paints, Blue Star, Federal Bank, Gateway Distriparks, Grindwell Norton, Hero MotoCorp, IGL, JK Lakshmi Cement, Jyothy Labs, Lumax Industries, Marico, PI Industries, PNC Infratech, Polycab India, Prudent Corporate, Ujjivan Small Finance Bank. According to Equirus, these companies combine sectoral tailwinds, strong balance sheets, and earnings visibility, making them attractive in a market where valuation discipline is critical. Source: Equirus Equirus further emphasized that Nifty earnings downgrades remain a recurring theme. Over the past decade, EPS estimates have almost always ended lower than initial projections, with cuts ranging from ~2% to ~37%. For CY25, downgrades already stand at -13.8% (from 1,289.7 to 1,111.6), the steepest since the pandemic. CY24 saw a relatively moderate 4% cut, though late-year downgrades emerged across global cyclicals and domestic consumption. The brokerage pointed out that deep early cuts, such as those for CY25, often signal cautious assumptions for the following fiscal year. Unless a strong macro or earnings surprise emerges, recovery remains uncertain. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
Hans India
27 minutes ago
- Hans India
Additional US tariffs to impact $48 billion of India's exports, govt to safeguard trade: Minister
If America imposes additional 25 per cent on India, around $48.2 billion of India's merchandise export to the US is likely to be subject to those tariffs, the Parliament was informed on Tuesday. Reciprocal tariff at the rate of 25 per cent has been imposed on certain goods exported from India to the US, starting from August 7. Further, additional rate of duty of 25 per cent with effect from August 27 has been imposed on certain goods exported from India. 'The government has taken note of tariff imposition by the US. It is estimated that around $48.2 billion of India's merchandise export (based on 2024 trade value) to the US will be subject to the above additional tariffs,' Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada said in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha. He further said that the government is committed to secure and advance country's national interest and protect the welfare of our farmers, workers, entrepreneurs, exporters, MSMEs and all sections of industry and 'take all necessary steps to help mitigate impact on trade including through appropriate export promotion and trade diversification measures'. It is estimated that around 55 per cent of the total value of India's merchandise exports to the US is subject to the 25 per cent first line of US reciprocal tariffs. No additional tariffs have been imposed on Indian exports to the US in sectors like pharmaceuticals and electronics as yet. According to the minister, a combination of different factors, such as product differentiation, demand, quality, and contractual arrangements, would determine the impact of reciprocal tariffs on India's exports, including in the textiles sector. New Delhi has reiterated that the latest tariff actions by US President Donald Trump are "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable". "We have already made clear our position on these issues, including the fact that our imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India," the government had said in a statement.
