Washington: Tesla CEO Elon Musk has voiced concerns over the misuse of H-1B visas by certain outsourcing companies but stressed that the solution lies in stopping abuse rather than dismantling the programme.
Speaking on his podcast with Indian entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath, Musk highlighted that the United States has long benefitted from skilled Indian migrant workers, while acknowledging the need to address issues in the H-1B system.
Roughly 70 percent of H-1B visas, which allow US companies to hire foreign talent in sectors such as technology and medicine, are used by Indian citizens. However, the programme has often been criticised for exploitation by outsourcing and staffing firms, who sometimes submit multiple applications for the same worker or use the visas to hire low-cost contract labour instead of specialists.
Interview with Nikhil https://t.co/4mmIo9rcKw
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 30, 2025
Musk stated that, “We need to stop the gaming of the system.” The remarks come after US President Donald Trump, in September, introduced a $100,000 fee for H-1B applicants, raising concerns among Indian workers and employers.
Data from the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) shows that H-1B visa approvals for Indian outsourcing companies have dropped to the lowest level in a decade. In the current financial year, the top seven Indian firms received just 4,573 H-1B approvals for initial employment, marking a 70 percent decline from 2015 and 37 percent fewer than in 2024.
The NFAP warned that Trump’s policies could lead to higher denial rates and other problems for employers. Musk also touched on trade and economic policy, criticising Trump’s use of tariffs.
Earlier this year, the US imposed 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods, including a 25 percent penalty on Russian oil purchases, even as other nations have negotiated trade agreements with the US. Negotiations for a trade deal between India and the United States are ongoing, with hopes of agreeing by the end of this year.
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