Indian AI startups face US visa hurdles: Entrepreneurs flag delays; Trump administration's rules complicate access

Several Indian AI startups relocating to the US to be closer to the global hub are running into immigration hurdles, with tighter visa regulations under the Trump administration complicating access and lengthening processes. LatentForce cofounder Aravind Jayendran said his US presence is critical within the next three months for client meetings but visa delays are proving a challenge. Like many startup executives, he is trying to secure a B1/B2 visa, but appointment wait times in India currently stretch from three-and-a-half to nine months. “As a startup, we are already facing multiple challenges and this is yet another that we need to deal with now,” Jayendran told ET. Qodex founder Siddhant Mohan, who already holds a B1/B2 visa, is seeking an O-1 special category visa since he spends nearly six months each year in the US. However, he pointed to a rise in rejection rates for O-1 applications. Founders and investors stressed that physical presence in the US is vital given that it represents their primary market. “There is a limit as to how much we can do online. For example, we have met all our customers in person and then closed the deal. If you cannot do that, it makes you handicapped as you are not getting sales,” Jayendran said. Several Indian entrepreneurs, including those from Composio, Smallest.ai and Atomicwork, moved to the US last year to be closer to their customer base and to access talent as the generative AI boom gathers pace. The US continues to lead global venture capital investments in AI startups, making local presence increasingly important for Indian founders, investors told ET.