US administration has clarified that there is no plan to tighten the H-1B visa norms.
How did the issue evolve?
H-1B is a gateway for the U.S. to attract highprofile educated white-coller workforce with expertise in the fields of “Science, Technology, Education and Management”.
The “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services” (USCIS) is reviewing the H-1B visa programme, and will come up with changes later this year.
It was widely speculated that the Trump administration was planning to discontinue the provision for the extension of H-1B visas beyond 6 years.
This created uncertainty and panic among the Indian-American community that constitutes a major chuck of the “H-1B” beneficiaries (over 7.5 lakh).
Industry bodies, immigrant associations, Indian Embassy and even some U.S. lawmakers too protested and sought clarification from the administration.
Hence, in a subsequent announcement to assuage anxieties, Trump administration clarified that it has no intention to curtail the H-1B extensions.
Notably, after six year on H-1B, visa holders are put on extension, which is when they apply for Permanent Residency (Green card), which is one-step behind full citizenship.
Can the administration alter H-1B?
USCIS is indeed said to be contemplating many regulatory changes to promote Trump’s “Buy American, Hire American” policy.
While some minor changes to H-1B are also under consideration, it is unlikely to affect the migrant numbers and their work provisions.
Significantly, Trump administration can change only some aspects of the H-1B programme through executive action and the rest needs congress approval.
Notable among the H-1B provisions governed by the executive are “work permit for spouses of H-1B holders and the lottery system for beneficiary identification”.
