Davos 2025: US Should Relax H-1B Visa Rules For Skilled Workers, Says Kenneth Rogoff

The United States should ease its immigration policies for highly skilled workers as it would benefit the country's economy.

That's according to Kenneth "Ken" Rogoff, professor of Economics and Public Policy at Harvard University, who believes the current system is too restrictive for educated professionals seeking opportunities in the US.

The comments come amid broader discussions on US immigration policies and their impact on the economy, with the newly elected President Donald Trump taking charge at the Oval Office.

Rogoff highlighted the need for a structured system that prioritises legal entry and noted that while illegal immigration surged under the Biden administration, legal immigration policies remained strict. He pointed out that highly skilled individuals, including PhD graduates receiving offers from top universities and companies, struggle to obtain green cards.

“I'm not saying that there aren't people who have less education who don't have a lot to contribute, but it should all be legal immigration, some rational system,” Rogoff told NDTV's Vishnu Som in a televised interview on Tuesday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum at Davos.

The H-1B visa program allows US companies to temporarily hire foreign workers for specialised roles, and Indian companies in the tech sector have made extensive use of this program. During the fiscal 2024, about 3.9 lakh H-1B visas were approved across 52,892 firms, of which, Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services were among the top 10 recipients, according to data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

He also suggested that easing restrictions on skilled immigration could benefit the US while acknowledging its impact on other countries. “I don't know if it's fantastic for India, but it's fantastic for the United States,” he said. 

“Biden just seemed to follow Trump's policy on legal immigration. He didn't relax it at all. So yes, we should have a much more relaxed policy on highly educated people who have a lot to contribute,” he added. 

With Donald Trump back as president, the H-1B visa program may face further changes. His previous administration imposed stricter regulations to prioritise American workers, and similar measures could continue, increasing competition for Indian tech professionals.