"$100,000 isn't going to stop us from hiring the best": US AI firm’s hoardings spark excitement at IIT Delhi campus amidst H1-B Visa crisis

A US-based AI recruitment firm’s hoardings have created a buzz around IIT-Delhi after a social media post went viral.

The hoardings have catchy lines like "We still sponsor H-one-Bs" and "One hundred thousand dollars isn't going to stop us from hiring the best".

The campaign has grabbed attention because it comes at a time when tech students are worried about stricter US visa norms, including a big leap in fees for new applications for H1-B visas, which allows US employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in occupations that require specialised knowledge.

Experts speculate that stricter visa norms may reduce foreign hiring and make global opportunities harder to grab for Indian students.

Rohan Gupta, a BTech student at IIT-Delhi, said, "I saw the post on social media... It was very good marketing. It gave us an assurance that companies still believe in Indian students, even if visa rules become stricter.”

Another student from the institute, Priya, said the viral post shows how much Indian talent is valued abroad. "People everywhere know how strong Indian students are when it comes to tech and AI. So, seeing a company openly say it will keep sponsoring visas really feels comforting," she said.

Students from middle-class or lower-middle-class families fear missing out on global exposure due to high visa fees, the students claimed.

Arjun, a BTech student, said overseas opportunities offer huge growth opportunities.

"We want to work in India for sure. But the exposure one gets abroad, in a diverse and fast-moving environment, is different. Strict visa rules are a big setback. So companies offering sponsorship is a huge thing for us," he said.

US govt's new H-1B visa rule

The Donald Trump administration has launched a massive crackdown to check 'abuse' of the H-1B visa programme, used by companies, particularly technology firms, to employ foreign workers in the US.

Indian professionals, including the techies and physicians, are among the largest cohort of H-1B visa holders.

In September, US President Donald Trump issued a proclamation titled 'Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers' as an important initial step to reform the H-1B nonimmigrant visa programme.

Under Trump’s proclamation, certain H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025, must be accompanied by an additional USD 100,000 fee as a condition of eligibility.

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