At a time when thousands of Indian tech workers in the United States are facing layoffs, visa uncertainty and job-market pressure, Nvidia has emerged as a rare bright spot.
The AI chip giant is reportedly increasing its H-1B hiring at a time when several major technology companies are cutting jobs or slowing down foreign worker recruitment.
For H-1B visa holders, losing a job in the US is not just a financial setback. It can also become an immigration crisis.
Under current rules, most laid-off H-1B workers get only 60 days to find another employer willing to sponsor their visa. If they fail to do so, they may have to leave the country.
This has created enormous anxiety among Indian professionals working in the American technology sector, especially after layoffs at companies such as Meta, Google, Amazon and others.
Against this backdrop, Nvidia’s hiring plans have attracted major attention.
According to federal filings cited in reports, Nvidia has secured certification for around 1,200 H-1B positions during the first two quarters of fiscal 2026. This is higher than the roughly 1,000 positions certified during the same period last year.
The contrast with other tech giants is striking. Google’s approved H-1B hires reportedly fell to around 2,200 from 5,100 a year earlier, while Amazon’s approvals dropped to nearly 4,300 from 6,100 during the same period.
For Indian tech workers, this development is significant because Indians remain the largest group of H-1B visa beneficiaries in the United States. They account for nearly 71 to 73 percent of all approved H-1B beneficiaries.
Nvidia’s hiring push comes at a time when the company is at the centre of the global artificial intelligence boom. Its chips power large AI models, data centres and several next-generation computing platforms.
The company is also offering eye-catching pay packages for top AI and engineering talent.
Federal filings reportedly show that software engineers at Nvidia can earn up to $391,000 a year in base salary, which is around Rs 3.72 crore. Research scientists can earn up to $356,500, or about Rs 3.39 crore.
Product managers can make up to $379,500, while hardware engineering managers can earn around $368,000.
Director-level roles are even more lucrative, with architecture directors reportedly earning up to $488,750, or nearly Rs 4.64 crore a year in base salary alone.
Some of the highest-paying technical roles include distinguished AI algorithms engineers, whose base salary can go up to $471,500, and principal systems software engineers, who can earn up to $431,250.
These figures do not include stock grants and bonuses, which can significantly increase total compensation.
Nvidia’s hiring focus covers AI research, software engineering, chip design, cloud infrastructure and customer-facing technical roles. This shows the company’s aggressive push to maintain its lead in the AI race.
However, the broader H-1B environment remains uncertain. Rising compliance requirements, stricter scrutiny and changing immigration policies have made many companies cautious about sponsoring foreign workers.
For Indian engineers facing layoffs, visa deadlines and a difficult job market, Nvidia’s expansion offers hope. But it does not remove the larger uncertainty surrounding H-1B workers in the US.
The message is clear: while many tech firms are pulling back, Nvidia is still betting big on global talent. For Indian professionals in the US, that could make the AI giant one of the most attractive employers in a difficult year.
