How 1990s Indian Middle Class Boosted America’s Tech Boom

For decades, Indian engineers have played a dominant role in the US H-1B visa program, receiving over 70% of the visas issued each year. This trend is tied to India’s strong focus on engineering education and the USA’s rising need for skilled tech talent.

In the 1990s, limited career options in India often led students to pursue engineering. With the rise of India’s IT sector and the 1991 economic reforms, engineering became a gateway to global opportunities. Simultaneously, the US tech industry was booming, causing a talent shortage. To fill that gap, the US introduced the H-1B visa in 1990 for skilled foreign professionals in specialized fields like STEM.

India’s vast pool of English-speaking engineers matched the US demand perfectly. Companies like Infosys, TCS, and Wipro sent thousands of workers to the US, while American firms like Google and Amazon also hired Indian tech talent. This created a reliable pipeline from Indian universities to Silicon Valley, reinforced by master’s programs and Optional Practical Training (OPT) that helped Indian students transition into H-1B roles.

Data shows that in recent years, Indian nationals have received over 70% of all new H-1B visas, with some years exceeding 75%. However, rising concerns about abuse of the system—especially multiple application filings by the same candidates—have prompted proposed reforms. These include a shift to a beneficiary-based lottery system, higher wage requirements, and tighter oversight of third-party staffing companies.

This evolving landscape could significantly alter how companies and applicants navigate the H-1B process in the future, especially those from India, the program’s largest beneficiary group.

H-1B visa, Indian engineers, US tech industry, immigration reforms, OPT program