New H-1B Visa Rules May Affect Indian Professionals

Applications for the H-1B visa will commence by April 1, 2019. Employers who have any petitions to make regarding this visa are required to register ahead visa electronic means for the H-1B visa lottery. US President Trump is already known for his anti-immigration agenda, has changed some H-1B visa rules which have become a cause for alarm for beneficiaries — most especially Indians — since they make up over 60% of holders of the visa. The H-1B visa is a well-known non-immigrant visa, that lets companies in the US hire experts from other countries who are in specialty careers. Tech companies in America have for a long time, leveraged the provisions of this visa to employ expert hands from other countries like India and China. TheTimes of India reports that for the 2020 filling season for the H-1B visa, employees who wish to petition the work visa for their workers, are expected to pre-register the H-1B visa lottery which comes yearly. Only those who win the lottery will be eligible to submit applications for the visa. These applications are also called “petitions.” This new procedure has already gotten the approval of the US Office of Management and Budget, OMB for short. The OMB is a unit of the executive office of the US president. This new application process will save substantial administrative costs as well as paperwork and time for US employers who are bringing in foreign staff.

Why would Indians be Alarmed?

Going by the available reports, the USCIS will be empowered more to decide the fate of applicants, and that is a source of worry to many Indians. Again, there is word making rounds that the USCIS may even go further to tweak the H-1B rules to ensure that only high-skilled or paid employees will get the visa. This will inadvertently increase the chances of applicants with a US Master's degree in getting the visa. Stay connected to Visa Time to get updates about visa news from Asia, Africa, US, Americas, Australia, Europe, and the Middle East! We will also assist you with the visa process for the chosen country.