Facing racial attack as an Indian in the US is nothing new but this time an Indian-origin CEO has been asked to ‘go to China’ and not India as Nitish Kannan criticized the ongoing narrative in the US to shut out everyone, including H-1Bs, O-1 visa holders. Kannan said while the US is fighting to keep everybody out, China is building the most advanced AI in the world. “Then move to China,” Kannan was told.
The exchange was part of a long debate as a US ed-tech CEO flagged a video of an Indian explaining how Indians can now go for an O-1 visa as the administration is tightening the noose around the H-1B visa. Hany Girgis contemplated that this is musical chairs for visa categories, as a new channel opens up as soon as one narrows down.
O-1 visa is for individuals with extraordinary ability and not anyone who can apply for H-1B can go for the O-1 route. But the positive side of O-1 is that it has no cap and a very high approval rate — almost eliminating all the uncertainties associated with the H-1B.
“Close one labor channel and three more open. This isn’t reform. It’s musical chairs for visa categories. The market adapts faster than Congress,” Girgis commented tagging anti-H-1B politicians to take note of the video that was promotonh O-1 as an alternative of H-1B.
Indian-origin CEO Nitish Kannan’s comment came in reply to this debate.
“How many Indians are receiving permanent residence and citizenship in China? Answer: ZERO. If you disgusting Indians are so genius at advanced AI, then WHY ARE YOU NOT DEVELOPING IT IN INDIA?” anti-India content creator Andrew Branca commented, reacting to Kannan.
A $100,000 fee has been imposed for H-1B visa petitions in an attempt to discourage companies from hiring foreigners under this visa program.
