Donald Trump’s decision to sharply raise H-1B visa costs is expected to accelerate the relocation of critical work by US companies to India, giving fresh momentum to the growth of Global Capability Centres (GCCs), economists and industry leaders say.

India already hosts around 1,700 GCCs—more than half the global total—having moved well beyond its tech-support origins to become a hub for innovation, from luxury car design to drug discovery.

Analysts say tightening visa rules in the US, alongside rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, are forcing firms to rethink workforce strategies, with GCCs emerging as resilient in-house engines of innovation.

“Plans are already underway,” said Rohan Lobo, partner at Deloitte India, noting that US firms with exposure to federal contracts are re-evaluating their talent strategies. He added that GCCs are likely to take on “more strategic, innovation-led mandates” in the coming years.

Earlier this month, Trump raised the cost of new H-1B applications to $100,000, from a previous range of $2,000 to $5,000. US senators have also revived a bill seeking tighter controls on H-1B and L-1 visas, citing loopholes and misuse by large employers.

Industry experts say if restrictions go unchallenged, US firms will increasingly rely on India GCCs for advanced work in AI, cybersecurity, product development, and analytics, keeping functions in-house rather than outsourcing.

“There is a sense of urgency,” said Lalit Ahuja of ANSR, which helps global companies set up GCCs. Others warn the shift could trigger “extreme offshoring” in some cases, echoing pandemic lessons that high-value work can be done anywhere.