Lok Sabha Question No. 5568 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-27
Subject: Visa for Foreign Workers in US
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Balashowry Vallabhaneni

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5568

ANSWERED ON- 27/03/2026

VISA FOR FOREIGN WORKERS IN US

5568.  SHRI BALASHOWRY VALLABHANENI

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a) whether it has come to the notice of the Government that a Bill has been introduced in the US Congress to change H-1B and L-1

Visas for foreign workers, if so, the details thereof;

(b) the impact of the above Bill on the Indian techies;

(c) to what extent the proposed Bill, if it becomes law, impact the

Indian professionals in the US on Work Visa; and

(d) the details of Firewall launched by the US's Labour Department?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a to d) The Government has taken note of the introduction of a Bill titled 'H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act of 2025' (S. 2928) in the United States Senate on 29 September 2025. The Bill has been referred to the   Senate   Judiciary   Committee.   As   per   the   latest   available information (as of 21 March 2026), it remains at the 'Introduced' stage with no hearings, markup, or further legislative progress.

The Bill seeks to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to reform   the   H-1B   (specialty   occupation)   and   L-1   (intra-company transferee) visa programmes with the stated objectives of curbing fraud, abuse, outsourcing, and displacement of American workers. Key   proposals   include   higher   wage   thresholds,   mandatory recruitment of  U.S. workers, a 50% cap on H-1B/L-1 workers in companies with more than 50 employees, stricter definitions of 'specialty   occupation'   and   'specialized   knowledge',   shorter maximum stay periods for H-1B, and enhanced enforcement powers.

The proposed changes, if enacted into law, could (a) raise hiring costs and make it harder for U.S. employers to sponsor or renew

visas for less experienced or mid-level tech workers; (b) shift some of  the work back to India or to other countries, and (c) make it difficult   to   obtain   permanent   residency   because   it   limits   the maximum time one could hold a H-1B visa.

'Project Firewall' is an enforcement initiative launched by the US Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division on 19 September 2025. Key features include audits and investigations in cases of suspected displacement of  US workers, inadequate recruitment, wage   violations,   or   misrepresentation   and   enhanced   penalties, including back wages, civil fines, and debarment from the H-1B programme. The initiative is aimed at strengthening compliance with the existing H-1B visa programme rules to protect wages and job opportunities of highly skilled American workers. As of March 2026, the initiative remains active with a large number of ongoing investigations.   It   enforces   existing   regulations   rather   than introducing new statutory changes.

Government of   India   continues   to   engage   with   the   US   side   at various levels on all aspects of skilled worker mobility to safeguard

the   interests   of   Indian   professionals   while   respecting   the immigration policies of the United States. *****