H-1B visa changes not aimed at Indians: US envoy Sergio Gor amid Trump immigration overhaul

Summary

Amid uncertainty over changes to the H-1B work visa visa programme under the Trump administration, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said the immigration overhaul should not be seen as targeting Indian professionals, stressing that the reforms apply across all visa categories. Gor’s comments come as thousands of Indian students, technology professionals and H-1B visa holders closely monitor the Trump administration’s immigration policies amid tighter visa scrutiny and broader efforts to reshape legal immigration. Indians account for the overwhelming majority of H-1B visas i ssued annually, making any policy change particularly significant for the Indian workforce. He said the H-1B exercise forms part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to overhaul immigration policies across all visa categories after what it considers years of inadequate border enforcement. “The H-1B exercise forms part of the administration’s broader immigration reforms. Washington, US: When asked about concerns over the H-1B visa process and the reported increase in hate crimes in the United States, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor says, “I don’t think the big item to remember on that is, this is not targeted at India. The… pic.twitter.com/SB59n7J4tZ Gor, in an interview with IANS, also said negotiations on the first phase of the proposed India-United States bilateral trade agreement have reached an advanced stage. The talks gathered urgency after the Trump administration unveiled its “reciprocal tariff” policy in April 2025 , imposing a 26 per cent duty on several Indian exports as part of a broader effort to reduce America’s trade deficit and push trading partners to lower barriers for US goods. Over the following months, trade tensions escalated, with the US later announcing steeper tariffs on Indian imports, citing concerns over trade imbalances and India’s continued purchase of Russian crude oil. Beyond trade, Gor also indicated that US President Donald Trump remains keen on travelling to India after being invited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their recent meeting in France. Gor also dismissed suggestions that the India-US relationship has lost momentum, telling IANS that the longstanding personal rapport between Trump and Modi continues to provide stability to bilateral engagement.