IT firms to expand localisation drive as US proposes more work visa hurdles

Indian IT firms say workplace-independent model, local hiring will help them meet challenge

A remote working model and the efforts of the Indian IT services companies in the past years to increase their localisation drive, especially in the United States, are expected to keep these firms largely insulated from the series of immigration-related measures that the US is taking.

The US Department of State today proposed not to issue temporary business visas for H-1B speciality occupations. The visa was widely used by IT firms to depute technology professionals to the US for a brief period to execute jobs for clients onsite through B1 visas.

The proposal, if finalised, will eliminate any misconception that the “B-1