US green card restrictions could shift tech work to India, says HCL veteran

The remarks come in response to the US government's recent action restricting green card sponsorship for nine information technology companies, a policy that industry observers say could have significant implications for how American tech firms structure their workforce globally.

According to the HCL executive's assessment, the restrictions are likely to incentivize US companies to transfer more technical operations and projects to India rather than maintain onshore teams dependent on immigration-based hiring. This shift could substantially increase the volume of American tech work being handled by Indian service providers and domestic operations.

The green card restrictions represent one of the most stringent visa-related measures targeting the IT sector in recent years. Supporters of such policies argue they protect domestic employment opportunities, while critics within the industry contend they may inadvertently push companies toward greater offshoring.

The potential outcome flagged by the former HCL leader suggests an unintended consequence: rather than reducing reliance on foreign technical talent, the restrictions might instead accelerate the globalization of tech work, with Indian firms and offshore development centers potentially capturing a larger share of American technology projects.

Industry analysts have begun assessing how these restrictions will reshape workforce planning strategies across major IT services companies that have traditionally relied on green card sponsorship as a tool for retaining skilled workers in the United States.