H-1B Visa

Critics say the H-1B visa programme allows foreign professionals to take jobs that could go to US workers

PM Modi's US visit takes on added significance as Donald Trump plans to introduce reciprocal tariffs, with an announcement expected just before the Indian PM's arrival in Washington DC

The initial registration period for the H-1B visas, the most sought-after by Indian IT professionals, for fiscal 2026 will commence on March 7 and close on March 24, a federal agency has said. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. The initial registration period for the most sought-after H-1B visas for foreign guest workers for fiscal 2026 will open at noon Eastern Time (10:30 pm IST) on March 7 and run through noon Eastern Time (10:30 pm IST) on March 24, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said on Wednesday. During this period, prospective petitioners and representatives must use a USCIS online account to register each beneficiary electronically for the selection process and pay the associated registration fee for each ...

Over 7,000 student and exchange visitors from India overstayed in the US in 2023, an expert told US lawmakers and suggested several reforms in the country's immigration policies, including those related to H-1B visas. As many as 32 countries have student/exchange visitor overstay rates of higher than 20 per cent, Jessica M Vaughan from the Center for Immigration Studies told the US House Committee on the Judiciary during a hearing on Restoring Immigration Enforcement in America. The F and M visa categories have the highest overstay rates of any of the broad categories of temporary admission. The F-1 Visa allows a person to enter the United States as a full-time student at an accredited college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, or other academic institution or in a language training programme. The M-1 visa category includes students in vocational or other nonacademic programmes, other than language training. Four countries -- Brazil, Chin

The remarks have sparked optimism among professionals and businesses reliant on the H-1B visa programme, and provided much-needed relief to many employed in India's IT services sector

Nasscom on Wednesday said H-1B visas have nothing to do with immigration issues and instead fill critical skills gap in the US, as the apex industry body asserted that technology will be the "lynchpin" of US economic growth, triggering continued need for "win-win partnerships" between companies on both sides. Nasscom vice president Shivendra Singh slammed "myth" that H-1B workers are cheap labour, replace American workers, or depress US salaries, and sought to assuage concerns around any adverse impact of President Donald Trump's latest moves and orders on flow of Indian tech professionals to the US. Singh told PTI that Nasscom does not have any reason to be less optimistic around Indian IT industry's growth story, given that India and Indian talent have very important role in growth of US economy. He expressed optimism that the developments in the US would not cloud the outlook for the Indian IT industry. Nasscom's comments assume significance given the growing unease around Trump'

He further emphasised that the H-1B visa programme has a positive impact for the US and suggested a need for a 'political will' to allow more legal immigration

H-1B final rule modernizes the H-1B program by streamlining the approval process, increasing its flexibility to better allow employers to retain talent workers and improving the integrity of programme

America is a nation of immigrants, and there's broad support for expanding legal immigration in the country, a top domestic policy advisor to US President Joe Biden has said amidst a raging debate on the most sought-after H-1B visa. The H-1B visa programme allows US companies to temporarily employ foreign workers in speciality occupations. Indian companies have been significant beneficiaries of this programme, particularly in the technology sector. I think even in the raging immigration debate, it's really important for all of us to remember that we are a nation of immigrants, and there's broad support for expanding legal immigration in the country,". We'll see how that goes in the future, but that's been the case, Indian-American Neera Tanden told PTI in an interview. Indians are the main beneficiaries of the H-1B visas, which bring in the best of the talent and brains from across the world. Highly skilled professionals from India walk away with the overwhelming number of H-1B visa

This may have an impact on India's $250 billion tech sector which plays an important role in the economy, employing about 5.4 million people

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations requiring theoretical or technical expertise

The remarks come amid a growing debate over the future of the H-1B visa, a programme that allows US companies to employ highly skilled foreign workers in specialised fields

US President-elect Donald Trump appears to be siding with Elon Musk and his other backers in the tech industry as a dispute over immigration visas has divided his supporters. Trump, in an interview with the New York Post on Saturday, praised the use of visas to bring skilled foreign workers to the US. The topic has become a flashpoint within his conservative base. I've always liked the visas, I have always been in favour of the visas. That's why we have them," Trump said. In fact, Trump has in the past criticised the H-1B visas, calling them very bad and unfair for US workers. During his first term as president, he unveiled a Hire American policy that directed changes to the programme to try to ensure the visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants. Despite his criticism of them and attempts to curb their use, he has also used the visas at his businesses in the past, something he acknowledged in his interview Saturday. I have many H-1B visas on my properties.

President-elect Trump's tariff threats against Canada, Mexico, and China have unsettled global markets, raising questions about how these moves might impact India's trade and economic interests

The H-1B visa offers a pathway for international graduates to remain in the US after their studies

Indian students with degrees from US institutions generally find it easier to enter the job market. However, they may face slightly lower salaries

USCIS has indicated that the second selection will happen "soon"

H-1B visas will now have the right to take legal action if their visa is revoked due to multiple filings, charging their employer with fraud. Here's how

Requirements for obtaining an H-1B visa, including job offer specifics and educational qualification

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