The Indian information technology (IT) companies are likely to lose out to global giants such as Google, Apple and Facebook in sending techies to the US on work visa after a new change by the Trump administration, which favours H-1B applicants with advanced US degrees, reported The Economic Times .

“It is a challenge for the clients of Indian IT services companies,” Shivendra Singh, vice president and head of Global Trade Development at IT services industry body Nasscom, told the paper, "It is not simple to take a call whether an IIT graduate with so many years of experience is not fit for a role and another person who holds a PhD from a US institution is the right fit," the report said.

Indian techies are among the largest beneficiaries of the H-1B visa programme as they get the most work permits. However, due to the rising protectionism followed by the Trump administration, the IT firms have been forced to reduce dependency on these visas. The development is likely to hurt their US clients, the report added.

“At the end of the day, you are talking about the best and brightest talent and H-1B is supposed to bridge the skill gaps for critical roles,” Singh told the paper.