As students across India prepare for JEE Main 2026, the gateway to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and IIMs, a parallel trend in the US is sending shockwaves through academic and career pathways in India. The recent reworking of the H-1B visa process by the government of US has triggered concern over how it affects placements at IITs and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), college destinations for many worldwide technology and business companies.
The H-1B Visa Rework- What Gets Reworked?
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations, and has experienced a substantive reworking. Enhanced scrutiny on third-party placements, required site visits, and raised application and processing fees have caught the attention of many. Some fees will be reported as high as $100,000 to get a visa. While the changes were initiated to help safeguard jobs in America, many of the changes have instead caused disruption in the same intent that students had of working abroad in India.
IITs Brace for Fewer International Offers
Historically, international placements have accounted for only 5–10% of total offers at IITs. However, these roles often come with the highest pay packages and prestige. Ramgopal Rao, Group Vice Chancellor of BITS Pilani and former Director of IIT Delhi, described the impact as “more cascading than immediate,” suggesting that while fewer students may go abroad, the long-term effects could reshape hiring trends.
At IIT Madras, none of the FAANG companies, like Facebook (Meta), Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google have extended pre-placement offers this year, a stark contrast to previous seasons. Instead, domestic IT firms like TCS and Infosys are shifting focus toward emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, large language models, and data analytics. Hackathons and coding challenges are becoming the new norm for talent acquisition.
Note- The Data mentioned in the table is being taken from many sources. For exact figures, visit the official website of the institutes.
IIMs Watch Cautiously, But Stay Optimistic
Management institutes like IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore are also monitoring the situation. While international placements have always been limited in number, they often represent the highest-paying roles. A reduction in such offers could influence student preferences and career trajectories. However, directors at top IIMs remain optimistic, citing the resilience of domestic markets and the growing presence of global firms in India.
Note- The Data mentioned in the table is compiled from many sources. For exact data, visit the official website of the institutes.
Domestic Opportunities on the Rise
Experts suggest that the silver lining could be that we may see increased outsourcing to India. With companies unwilling to spend crores on H-1B visas, many are opting instead to hire Indian talent to work domestically. This has the potential to bolster the Indian technology ecosystem, resulting in many more opportunities for graduates.
What does this mean for IIT and IIM graduates?
The students who are going to graduate from one of the IITs and IIMs can still dream of going to the USA, but the road ahead once they graduate may look different. Students are starting to be encouraged to set different goals, to explore opportunities in new sectors, and to prepare for a more competitive job market (domestically).
While there is uncertainty from H-1B visa changes, there is an opportunity to recalibrate expectations and approaches. For India’s brightest minds, the burden is not just passing JEE or getting a top placement, but to function and land a position in an ever-changing global job market.
