In advance of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit to New Delhi, there are reports of a possible cap on H-1B visas for nations that force foreign companies to store data locally. Such a restriction would directly impact Indian H-1B applicants to the United States.
The rumored report has it that this H-1B cap would limit visas granted to Indian applicants to between 10-15% of the 85,000 H-1B visas allocated annually. There is not currently a by-country limit on the H-1B visas granted each year, though it is estimated approximately 70% go to Indians.
Sources have said this possible cap is not specific to India, but any country that requires data localization.