• Sun. Oct 5th, 2025

Trump Visa Curbs Boost India’s Global Capability Centers

ByKriti kumari

Sep 30, 2025

US President Donald Trump’s H-1B visa crackdown is accelerating a major shift for American companies. They are increasingly moving critical operations to India’s global capability centers. This trend covers everything from finance to advanced research and development.

Economists and industry insiders confirm this movement. India now hosts over 1,700 global capability centers. That represents more than half of all such centers worldwide.

These hubs have evolved far beyond basic tech support. They now drive high-value innovation across multiple sectors. Their work includes designing luxury car dashboards and pioneering new drug discoveries.

Adoption of artificial intelligence is growing rapidly. Combined with tighter visa restrictions, this pushes firms to rethink labor strategies. Global capability centers in India offer a resilient solution blending international skills with strong local leadership.

Global capability centers are perfectly positioned for this moment. They act as ready in-house engines for growth and adaptation.

Rohan Lobo from Deloitte India noted several US firms are reassessing workforce needs. He highlighted increased activity in financial services and technology sectors. Companies with US federal contract exposure are particularly active in this shift.

Plans are already underway for this transition. Lobo expects these centers will take on more strategic, innovation-led mandates over time. This represents a significant evolution in their role and importance.

Trump recently raised H-1B visa application costs dramatically. The fee jumped from $2,000-$5,000 to $100,000. This places heavy pressure on firms relying on skilled foreign workers to fill talent gaps.

US senators reintroduced legislation to tighten H-1B and L-1 visa rules. They aim to close what they call loopholes and prevent abuse by major employers. This adds another layer of complexity for companies.

If these visa restrictions remain unchallenged, experts predict substantial changes. US firms will shift high-end work to their India global capability centers. This includes AI, product development, cybersecurity, and analytics functions.

Companies prefer keeping strategic functions in-house rather than outsourcing. The growing uncertainty from recent changes has accelerated existing discussions about moving high-value work overseas.

There is a real sense of urgency driving these decisions. Lalit Ahuja of ANSR confirmed this heightened activity. His company helped major corporations like FedEx and Target establish their global capability centers.

The movement toward global capability centers represents a strategic realignment. Companies are building resilient operational models that can withstand regulatory changes. India’s established infrastructure makes this transition smoother.

This shift demonstrates how geopolitical decisions impact global business operations. The global capability center model offers stability amid changing immigration policies. It represents a long-term strategic investment for many firms.

The evolution of global capability centers continues to accelerate. They are becoming innovation powerhouses rather than just support functions. This transformation benefits both companies and the Indian economy.

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