Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Nov 30: Tesla CEO Elon Musk has voiced strong support for the H-1B visa programme, stating that the United States has “benefited immensely” from the contributions of Indian immigrants. His remarks came during a conversation with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath on the podcast “WTF is?”, released on Sunday.
Musk said that U.S. companies continue to face shortages of specialised talent, emphasising that skilled workers from India play a key role in filling these gaps. Describing the H-1B system as essential for attracting global expertise, he said there is “always a scarcity of talented people.”
While defending the programme, Musk acknowledged that some firms misuse the visa system. He referred to instances where outsourcing companies “gamed the system,” and called for targeted reforms to curb such practices. “I’m absolutely not in the school of thought that we should shut down the H-1B programme,” he said, countering voices from parts of the political right.
Musk also commented on broader U.S. immigration issues, attributing current challenges to what he described as inadequate border controls in previous policy approaches.
His comments come at a sensitive time for the H-1B programme under the Trump administration, which in its second term has taken a stricter regulatory stance while maintaining that high-skilled foreign workers remain critical to the economy.
Created under the Immigration Act of 1990, the H-1B visa allows U.S. employers to hire foreign professionals in specialised fields. The programme has an annual cap of 65,000 visas, with Indian nationals comprising 71 per cent of approvals in 2024. Nearly 400,000 H-1B applications were approved that year, including renewals not subject to the cap.
As part of recent enforcement changes, President Donald Trump announced a new $100,000 fee for fresh H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025. The fee targets what the administration describes as loopholes used to “undercut American workers.” It excludes renewals, current visa holders, and 2025 lottery winners.
The Department of Homeland Security is expected to release a proposal in December addressing cap exemptions, compliance enforcement, and rules for third-party worksite placements.
Despite the tougher regulatory environment, Trump has repeatedly acknowledged the economic importance of the programme. In a November 11 interview with Fox News, he said the U.S. must continue welcoming highly skilled workers, adding that talent gaps cannot be filled simply by relying on the domestic unemployment pool.