New Delhi, Feb. 23 -- Selva S. spent 17 years in the US semiconductor industry before returning to India through an internal transfer. His H-1B visa remains valid until December 2027, which means he could earn far more money than he would in India, but the growing uncertainty around long-term work authorization, he feels, made the trade-off worthwhile.

Selva's decision reflects a broader rethink among specialized tech hands. From the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to tier-II colleges, generations of engineers built their dreams around a US visa, a job in Silicon Valley, and the promise of global success. For decades, that journey shaped careers, secured families, and turned India into the world's premier supplier of tech talent....