Alphabet (GOOGL) is planning a major expansion in India, as tougher U.S. visa rules push tech firms to hire more talent overseas. The company is exploring new office space in Bangalore, India’s main tech hub, so that it could increase its presence in the country.
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Alphabet has already leased one office tower and secured options on two more at Alembic City in Bangalore’s Whitefield area, according to people familiar with the matter. Together, the space totals about 2.4 million square feet, with the first building expected to open in the coming months.
These sites could house up to 20,000 additional employees, more than doubling Alphabet’s current India workforce of about 14,000 people.
Visa Limits Push Hiring Overseas
The move comes as US visa rules make it harder and more expensive for companies to hire foreign workers. The Trump administration has raised the cost of new H-1B visa applications to as much as $100,000, up from the earlier range of $2,000 to $5,000.
That huge increase has added pressure on US tech firms that rely on skilled overseas talent, pushing many to expand hiring outside the US instead. India has emerged as a key destination, thanks to its large pool of tech and AI workers and fewer hiring barriers.
What Comes Next for GOOGL
The tech giant is scheduled to announce its results for the fourth quarter of 2025 today, February 4, after the market closes.
For Q4, Wall Street expects the company to post revenues of $111.33 billion, up about 15% from the year-ago quarter. Meanwhile, earnings are expected to increase by about 23% from the year-ago quarter to $2.63 per share.
During the earnings call, investors will be watching for updates on hiring plans, cost trends, and how Alphabet plans to balance AI investment with margins, as well as any comments on its growing focus on India.
Is Alphabet Stock a Buy Right Now?
Heading into Q4 earnings, Wall Street has a Strong Buy consensus rating on Alphabet stock based on 22 Buys and six Holds. The average GOOGL stock price target of $355.76 indicates 4.72% upside potential from current levels.
