Even as the US is tightening its stance on skilled immigration, other countries are looking to make the most of the opportunity.
Germany’s Ambassador to India has invited skilled Indians to work in Germany after the US imposed a fee of $100,000 on every H-1B visa. “Here is my call to all highly skilled Indians,” Philipp Ackermann, who is Germany’s Ambassador to India, posted on X. “Germany stands out with its stable migration policies, and with great job opportunities for Indians in IT, management, science and tech. Find your way to Germany to boost your career,” he added, while sharing a link to how to move to Germany.
“This is a good moment to talk about Indians working in Germany,” Ackermann said in an accompanying video. “Indians are amongst the top earners in Germany. The average Indian working in Germany earns more than the average German working in Germany, and that’s pretty good news because a high salary means that Indians are contributing big to our society and our welfare,” he added.
“We believe in hard work and we believe in giving the best jobs to the best people. Our migration policy works a bit like a German car. It’s reliable. It is modern. It is predictable. It will go in a straight line with no zigzags, and you don’t have to fear a full break at a top speed. We do not change our rules fundamentally overnight. Highly skilled Indians are welcome in Germany. If you wanna find out what Germany has to offer, click on the link tree below. I’m sure you’ll find surprising opportunities,” Ackermann said.
Germany appears to have sensed an opportunity with the US toughening its stance on skilled visa, and seems to be looking to make the most of the situation. Last week, the US government had announced a new $100,000 fee for all H-1B visas, which had caused companies like Microsoft and Amazon to ask H-1B visa holders to immediately return to the US, and avoid traveling out of the country. This had apparently caused a surge in last-minute flight bookings from India to the US, and caused much uncertainty for H-1B holders. While the US had later clarified that the rules would not apply to current visa holders, the moves had caused a lot of bad press in India. And as skilled Indian employees weigh their options, other countries seem to be swooping in to woo them in the meantime.