By Keerthi Ramesh
Vijay Sappani, a Canadian Indian tech entrepreneur has reignited debate over U.S. immigration policy, saying a tough stance on H-1B visas by the Trump administration has helped redirect corporate hiring away from the United States.
Founder and CEO of Toronto-based, Ela Capital, Sappani made the remarks in a thread on the social media platform X this week, calling the administration’s restrictions on the H-1B program “the best thing Trump did to corporate America.” Sappani’s comments come amid a wave of layoffs in the U.S. technology sector and growing use of offshore workforces.
READ: Companies under fire over hiring Indians amid H1-B backlash (January 15, 2026)
The H-1B visa program, used by U.S. companies to hire skilled foreign workers mainly in technology and engineering, has been a triggering point in national discussions over jobs, wages and immigration reform. Under recent policy changes which include higher application fees and stricter vetting, the cost and complexity of sponsoring foreign employees have surged, prompting some firms to rethink their staffing strategies.
Sappani said in his comments that the restrictions have pushed technology firms to “dive deeper into India,” where companies can hire comparable talent at lower costs rather than sponsor visas that allow workers to relocate to the United States. He predicted the trend will accelerate, with more roles effectively moving abroad.
His views are echoed by data from a recent survey conducted by professional networking site Blind, which polled nearly 2,400 technology and financial services professionals across the United States and India. About 52% of respondents said their companies plan to increase hiring in India in 2026, with roughly one-third expecting significant increases.
Among the survey’s key findings was that 38% of respondents believe new India-based jobs are replacing positions previously filled in the U.S., while 23% said offshore expansion simply supports broader recruitment efforts and a smaller share said visa policy changes had no impact.
Major firms such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Uber and eBay were cited in the survey as planning to scale up Indian operations, either by adding roles, relocating functions, or building out existing teams. This pattern reflects broader trends in corporate labor planning as firms adjust to economic pressures and geopolitical shifts.
Critics of the stricter H-1B regime argue it undermines U.S. competitiveness by raising barriers for global talent and encouraging companies to grow abroad rather than domestically. Supporters contend it protects American workers and wages by making foreign hiring more costly and complex. Sappani’s remarks have added fuel to both sides of the debate, particularly among industry insiders watching layoffs and hiring patterns unfold.
The debate over H-1B visas and offshore hiring underscores the complex interplay between immigration policy, corporate workforce strategy and the global tech economy at a moment of significant change for U.S. labour markets.