US Senator Marco Rubio defended the 2026 changes to US work visa policies during his visit to New Delhi on October 23, 2026, stressing these reforms are not directed specifically at Indian nationals but apply worldwide. Rubio said the visa changes are designed to prioritize American workers and national interests under a broader “America First” agenda.
Suspensions of Major IT Companies from Labour Certification
On October 9, 2026, the US Government suspended several large IT outsourcing firms from the Permanent Labour Certification Program due to multiple active federal investigations. Companies affected include Indian-origin firms Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, and Capgemini. Additionally, American tech giants Microsoft and Adobe
were also suspended. These companies had collectively sought millions of foreign workers and received hundreds of thousands of H-1B visa approvals and permanent labour certifications.
New Fees for F-1 Students Under Optional Practical Training
The US Department of Homeland Security proposed new fees on October 9, 2026, for F-1 non-immigrant students participating in Optional Practical Training (OPT). The measure aims to protect American workers and enhance immigration system integrity by adjusting costs for international students applying for practical training opportunities in the US.
Policy Goals and Context of Visa Changes
Rubio described the US immigration system as broken with extensive fraud and abuses in business-related programs, justifying the reforms as necessary to address these issues and
secure American jobs. He emphasized the changes are global in scope, not targeting India specifically, but impacting Indian nationals due to their significant presence in the US work visa system. Rubio stated, “It’s not one that’s built on India . It’s not one that’s focused on India …It happens to impact India ns that want to come to the United States and work … but it’s not geared towards India . It is global.” He also said the US under President Trump is committed to placing its workers and country first.
India has pointed out that the movement of skilled
professionals between the US and India benefits both nations by supporting innovation, research, productivity, and job creation. Indian officials have also expressed that the recent US measures conflict with the shared workforce and migration-related objectives agreed upon bilaterally.
