The U.S. government’s decision to raise visa application fees to $100,000 — up from the previous $2,000 – $5,000 range — is prompting companies to accelerate the relocation of high-value operations to India. This shift is expected to significantly boost the growth of Global Capability Centers (GCCs), which already number over 1,700 in India and handle functions such as R&D, finance, and drug discovery.
Industry leaders, including Deloitte India’s Rohan Lobo, note that GCCs are well-positioned to absorb innovation-driven mandates as firms reassess workforce strategies, especially those tied to U.S. federal contracts.
Even before the fee hike and prioritization of higher-paid visa applicants India was projected to host over 2,200 GCCs by 2030, with a market value nearing $100 billion. Experts such as Ramkumar Ramamoorthy, former Cognizant India MD, and JPMorgan’s Chief India Economist Sajjid Chinoy, agree that the pandemic and rising visa costs have reinforced the viability of remote tech work, further fueling offshoring momentum and strengthening India’s service export sector.
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
