New Delhi, December 1 — Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has voiced strong support for the H-1B visa programme, stating that the United States has “benefited immensely” from skilled Indians who have contributed to its growth and innovation.
Speaking on investor Nikhil Kamath’s podcast People by WTF, Musk said that Indian engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs have played a vital role in strengthening the US technology sector. He cautioned that shutting down the H-1B programme would be “very bad” for America.
While acknowledging misuse of the visa system by certain outsourcing firms, Musk stressed that reforms are needed rather than scrapping the programme. He rejected claims that skilled immigrants take away jobs, highlighting instead a global talent shortage and the need for the US to attract the best minds.
His remarks come at a time when the US government has intensified scrutiny of H-1B visas, even as Indian professionals remain one of the largest groups of beneficiaries. Musk reiterated that America’s innovation ecosystem has been an “immense beneficiary” of Indian talent.
