In a relief for Indian techies, US authorities today said that the Trump administration is not considering any proposal that would force H-1B visa holders to leave the country. Since taking office last January, the Trump administration has been talking about cracking down on the H- 1B visa scheme.
But the Indian commerce bodies like the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) had warned that any disruptive move on the visa front would be detrimental for both India and the US.
So, what is the H1-b Visa?
Is it basically a work permit based on an employment in the USA. It means you can shift to America for a temporary basis for a job. It does not entail permanent residency or citizenship of the country. For this visa, an employer must offer a job in the US and apply for your H1B visa petition with the US Immigration Department.
Why is it so important to Indians?
Many techies and other specialists have tremendous career opportunities in the US. H1-B visa is important for them to work there. It also facilitates their application for a Green Card if they want to become citizens of America. Many NRIs from India have taken this route.
While earlier India complained about brain drain, now Indians are proud residents of the Silicon Valley. They have taken their skill and expertise to build a name for themselves and India.
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Why is it in news?
After Trump assumed Presidency, he has been on a war footing to indigenise services and products in America. On April 18, 2017 President Trump signed a “Buy American, Hire American” Executive Order which sets broad policy intentions directing federal agencies to propose reforms to the H-1B visa system.
The prospect of a clampdown on visa extensions for H-1B holders had stoked widespread fear among Indian professionals, including IT workers, in the past week with reports of over half a million people likely to be affected.
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Last week, the US website had reported that a proposal from the Department of Homeland Security seeks to prevent foreigners from receiving extension to H-1B visas while their green card applications are being processed.
But now, there is some clarity by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that the administration is not considering any regulatory changes that would force H-1B visa holders awaiting Green Cards to leave the United States.
Moreover, they will be given a relief in the form of one-year extensions. they are not considering a regulatory change that would compel H1-B visa holders to leave the US after the six-year limit.
However, they left open the possibility that there would be rule changes that will allow H1-B visa holders who are having their green card processed to remain in US only one year at a time – instead of the current three-year extensions.
While this is a relief, it will make the process more tedious. So, while Trump fiddles with the processes, millions of Indian techies and specialists will await with baited breathes as he decided their future in America.
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