A growing number of tech workers from India are leaving the U.S. to return home, according to a report by The Economic Times. Around 12,700 professionals had made the move by September 2026, putting the year on track to surpass last year’s record of 15,100, according to data from Xpheno.
The numbers have risen steadily in recent years, increasing from 7,200 in 2023 to 9,800 in 2024. If the trend continues, India could soon see more tech professionals returning from the U.S. rather than moving there.
READ: As EB-1 advances for Indians, experts break down the October visa bulletin (
The trend comes amid growing uncertainty over immigration and visa policies under the Trump administration. Rising layoffs and limited stability in global hiring have also contributed to the shift.
LinkedIn member Abhinarayan Mishra noted that returning to India does not guarantee an “easy landing.” According to Mishra, Indian employers are prioritizing expertise in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity and product leadership over general international experience. He also pointed to tax compliance requirements in both the U.S. and India, as well as potential education and adjustment challenges for returning professionals’ Gen Z children.
The trend comes after the suspension of PERM processing for some of the largest recruiters of global talent, including Microsoft, Adobe, Infosys, Cognizant, Capgemini, Wipro, HCL Technologies and Tata.
PERM, or Program Electronic Review Management, is a key step in the employer-sponsored green card process. It generally requires employers to demonstrate that there are not enough qualified, available U.S. workers for a position and that hiring a foreign worker will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed American workers.
For Indian professionals relying on employer sponsorship, the suspension could delay their plans to obtain permanent residency. The impact, however, will depend on their current immigration status and the stage of their green card applications.
According to immigration expert Swatilina Barik, the action does not cancel existing H-1B visas or affect green cards that have already been approved. Instead, it prevents the affected companies from filing new PERM applications and pauses pending applications while the suspension remains in effect. Barik said the development should be understood as a restriction on the employment-based permanent residency pathway rather than a cancellation of temporary work authorization.
READ: Microsoft pushes back on JD Vance’s H-1B claims: ‘We believe in American workforce’ (October 9, 2026)
Rules governing H-1B visas are also facing potential changes. U.S. companies that violate H-1B rules could face fines of up to $250,000 and bans from federal immigration programs lasting as long as 10 years under a bill introduced in Congress.
The H-1B Visa Fraud Crackdown Act, introduced Oct. 1 by Republican Rep. Beth Van Duyne of Texas, would significantly increase penalties for employers that intentionally violate H-1B rules. The proposal would also authorize the government to bar certain companies from participating in immigration programs for up to 10 years.