Being an Indian and facing racial attacks in the US is nothing new, but this time, an Indian-origin CEO was asked to “go to China” instead of India as Nitish Kannan criticized the US for currently keeping everyone out, including H-1B, O-1 visa holders. Kannan said that while the United States is working to keep everyone out, China is building the most advanced artificial intelligence in the world. “Then move to China,” Kannan was told. The exchange was part of a long-running debate in which a U.S. edtech CEO tagged an Indian in a video explaining how Indians can now obtain O-1 visas as the government tightens restrictions on H-1B visas. Hany Girgis believes it’s like a game of musical chairs for visa categories because once you narrow it down, new avenues open up.The O-1 visa is for individuals with extraordinary abilities, and not everyone who can apply for an H-1B can go the O-1 route. But the positive side of the O-1 is that it has no cap and the approval rate is very high—almost eliminating all the uncertainty associated with the H-1B. “Closing one labor channel and opening three more. This is not reform. This is a game of musical chairs for visa categories. The market adapts faster than Congress,” Girgis commented, tagging anti-H-1B politicians to pay attention to videos promoting O-1 as an alternative to H-1B.
The comments from Indian-origin chief executive Nitish Kannan came in response to the controversy. “How many Indians have obtained permanent residency and citizenship in China? Answer: Zero. If you disgusting Indians are so talented at advanced artificial intelligence, then why don’t you develop it in India?” Anti-India content creator Andrew Branca commented in response to Kannan. H-1B visa applications carry a $100,000 fee to prevent companies from hiring foreigners under the visa program.
