Canadian-Indian entrepreneur Vijay Sappani has made a striking claim about former President Donald Trump's immigration policies, stating that taking a hardline stance on H-1B visas was "the best thing Trump did to Corporate America." According to Sappani, this policy forced companies to "dive deeper into India where they can pay half of H-1B salary for the same talent instead of bringing them to the US."
Survey Reveals Significant Hiring Shift to India
Sappani's comments align with new survey findings that indicate a substantial shift in corporate hiring patterns. According to a survey conducted by the professional network-based company Blind, approximately 52 percent of technology and banking professionals reported that their companies plan to increase hiring in India during the upcoming year.
Detailed Breakdown of Hiring Plans
The survey, which included responses from 2,392 verified professionals across both the United States and India, revealed specific hiring intentions:
- 34 percent of respondents expect a significant increase in India hiring
- 18 percent anticipate a moderate rise in recruitment activities
- Major technology companies including Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Uber, and eBay are increasingly looking to India as a strategic hiring base
Impact on US Employment Positions
When questioned about the effect on American roles, the survey presented a mixed picture of how India hiring influences US employment:
- 38 percent of respondents indicated that India hiring is directly replacing US positions
- 23 percent said it actually helps the recruitment process within the United States
- The remaining respondents reported various other effects or no clear impact
Immigration Policy's Direct Influence
The study specifically examined how immigration policies are shaping corporate decisions:
- 28 percent of survey participants said H-1B visa restrictions are actively pushing companies to hire more professionals in India
- 25 percent reported that these policy changes had no proper effect on their hiring decisions
- 4 percent noted increased US hiring as a direct result of the visa restrictions
Sappani's Prediction and Corporate Reality
Vijay Sappani, who serves as the founder and CEO of Toronto-based investment firm Ela Capital, predicts that more US jobs will continue moving to India and that this trend will keep growing. His perspective finds support in the survey data, which indicates India's expanding role as a functional alternative to US labor markets.
According to the International Business Times, the survey report stated: "Rather than relying on US-based expansion, many companies appear to be redirecting growth to India, signalling a structural shift in global workforce planning."
Corporate Implementation Strategies
Among employees at prominent global firms including eBay, Wayfair, LinkedIn, Qualcomm, Capital One, Google, Amazon, Salesforce, SAP, and Microsoft, up to 93 percent reported plans to expand hiring in India. Companies are pursuing this expansion through multiple approaches:
- Scaling existing teams and operations in India
- Creating entirely new roles specifically for the Indian market
- Relocating projects and business functions to Indian locations
Political Context and Economic Implications
The H-1B visa debate continues to generate significant political tension in the United States. The MAGA base has expressed dissatisfaction with the number of H-1B workers replacing native American workers in major industries, leading the GOP base to urge the Trump administration to implement more permanent restrictions.
However, major employers that traditionally hire substantial numbers of Indian and Chinese workers argue that severe restrictions could eventually harm the American economy. Meanwhile, practical barriers including stricter social media screening rules, a delayed application process, and a substantial fee of $100,000 for an H-1B visa have led many professionals and companies to reconsider their approach to US employment.
This complex interplay of corporate strategy, immigration policy, and economic considerations continues to reshape global workforce dynamics, with India emerging as a significant beneficiary of these shifting patterns.
