US Ambassador Sergio Gor has reaffirmed that the United States continues to welcome global talent, but emphasized that rigorous border security and thorough vetting are now considered non-negotiable global standards. Speaking at the India Today Conclave 2026, he addressed concerns from thousands of Indian professionals caught in visa backlogs, clarifying that the delays are a matter of national security rather than targeting any particular country.
“Talent has been welcome in America for decades, and that isn’t changing anytime soon,” Gor said. Responding to questions on H-1B and H-4 visa delays, he stressed, “This is not specific to India. India is not being targeted.” He compared the US administration’s stance to India’s own emphasis on territorial integrity, saying, “President Trump came in with a strong mandate on securing the border, much like your Prime Minister often stresses the importance of a strong, secure border. With millions crossing our southern border, we must carefully assess who is allowed entry.”
At the same time, a new legislative effort in Washington seeks to ease the financial and regulatory burden on foreign professionals. The Welcoming International Success Act (WISA), introduced by Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, aims to dismantle the restrictive H-1B framework established in September 2025. That framework imposed a $100,000 filing fee on companies and introduced a wage-weighted lottery system, which critics argue penalized essential sectors such as healthcare and research. The WISA bill seeks to cancel the September 2025 immigration proclamation, reduce or eliminate the employer filing fee, and relax wage requirements that make hiring international talent prohibitively expensive.
The outcome of this legislative debate is particularly significant for India, which accounts for 70–75% of all H-1B visas issued annually. Currently, an estimated 7.3 lakh Indian H-1B holders reside in the US, supported by 5.5 lakh dependents.
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