Tighter immigration rules and expensive visa sponsorship are forcing overseas-trained Indians to reconsider their career plans, with many accepting lower salaries at home
Rising visa costs and tighter immigration rules are prompting more Indian professionals to return home from the UK and the US, with some accepting significantly lower salaries to continue their careers in India.
A 25-year-old Indian communications and media graduate, who completed her studies in the UK in 2024, returned to India earlier this year after failing to secure an employer willing to sponsor her work visa. Although she had nearly two years to find a job, at least two companies told her that the long-term cost of sponsorship was too high.
The UK has tightened its work visa rules in recent years, raising the minimum salary requirement for eligible skilled worker positions. These changes have made it harder for international graduates to secure employment and remain in the country.
Another Indian professional, who worked as a social work officer in London, began searching for jobs in India as his visa expiry approached. He eventually secured employment in April, but said several friends who returned around the same time remain unemployed.
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The shift is also visible in recruitment trends. Student Circus, a UK-based career platform, recorded 22,312 views for India-based job listings by July 2026, nearly three times the 8,052 views recorded in 2023
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Most applicants are targeting opportunities in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Gurugram and Hyderabad
The trend extends to the US, where uncertainty over H-1B policies and green card rules is influencing career decisions. Kapil Joshi, chief executive of IT staffing at Quess Corp, said returnee numbers have increased each year.
However, returning does not guarantee comparable pay. A Blind survey of 1,276 verified professionals found that 53% had seen people return from the US because of visa-related problems. Many took roles with the same multinational companies in India but earned considerably less.
The UK is also reducing the post-study graduate visa period from two years to 18 months for applications made from January next year, adding to uncertainty for international students.
