LTIMindtree CEO Venu Lambu has confirmed that the company will no longer file fresh H-1B visa applications, marking a significant shift in its talent strategy for the United States. In an interview with Moneycontrol, Lambu said the decision reflects ongoing efforts over the past few years to reduce dependence on H-1B visas and strengthen local hiring.
“We are hiring locally, and we are not going to make any new applications on H-1B unless there is a strong business case to spend $100,000,” Lambu stated. He clarified that the decision applies only to new filings in the upcoming H-1B lottery cycle and does not impact renewals of existing visas. Any change in US immigration rules, he added, may prompt a review of the policy.
LTIMindtree typically files a limited number of new H-1B applications each year, and the company believes its onsite delivery model is now mature enough to rely on its existing visa holders along with robust local recruitment. Lambu emphasized that this is not a sudden move, but a continuation of the company’s long-term transition toward building a locally rooted talent base in key markets.
With established mechanisms for onsite hiring already in place, LTIMindtree expects minimal operational disruption. The company continues to employ full-time local staff for onsite roles, rather than depending heavily on subcontractors.
This strategic shift underscores LTIMindtree’s focus on reducing visa-related risks, strengthening its US workforce, and ensuring sustainable service delivery in one of its most important markets. Existing H-1B employees remain unaffected, with the policy change applying solely to future filings.
