H-1b Visa Issues

Trump called H-1B visa very bad for Americans, his company applied for one

The social media company founded by former President Donald Trump applied for a business visa program that he sought to restrict during his administration and which many of his allies want him to curtail in a potential second term. Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind Truth Social, filed an application in June 2022 for an H-1B visa for a worker at a USD 65,000 annual salary, the lowest wage category allowed under the program. Federal immigration data shows the company was approved for a visa a few months later. The company says it did not hire the worker. Filing for the visa sets the image of Trump the candidate, who has proposed a protectionist agenda for companies to hire American, in conflict with Trump the businessman, who has said his companies will use every tool at their disposal. Records show the investment firm started by Trump's son-in-law and White House adviser, Jared Kushner, also filed an application and was approved to hire a foreigner as an associate .

US lawmakers to address Green Card, H-1B issues at immigration summit

Eminent lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republican parties at an immigration summit have called for urgently addressing the Green Card backlog, an issue that is majorly impacting Indian professionals and the issues related to the H-1B visa. At the first-of-its-kind 'Tech Immigration Summit' at the US Capitol on Monday hosted by the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora (FIIDS), the lawmakers pushed for removing the seven per cent country quota when it comes to issuing Green Card or legal permanent residency to foreign guest workers in specialised categories. In the absence of such a move, the Green Card waiting period for Indian immigrants would be more than 20 years and over 70 years in many cases. A Green Card, known officially as a Permanent Resident Card, is a document issued to immigrants to the US as evidence that the bearer has been granted the privilege of residing permanently. Congressman Ro Khanna, who is also co-chair of the Congressional India Caucus, called f

US starts 5-week H1-B visas renewal drive, to accept 20,000 applications

The announcement by the US Department of State on the pilot program for in-country renewal of certain petition-based temporary work visas, including for Indian nationals, was made in June 2023

India-US trade policy forum to discuss social security pact, visa issues

India will flag issues such as proposed social security agreement, visas, and promoting agri trade in the meeting of India-US Trade Policy Forum (TPF) during January 13-14, a top government official said. US Trade Representative Katherine Tai will be here for a meeting with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. It will be the 14th ministerial-level meeting of the India-US TPF. India is seeking social security of totalisation agreement with the US. "There are issues pertaining to table grapes. The US also has certain issues. Social security agreement and mobility are our main focus areas," the official said. Under the agreement, an expatriate in either country need not contribute to the social security schemes of the host country. It will benefit a number of Indians, particularly from the IT sector, who are working in America and paying social security but are unable to get any benefit out of it. The last meeting was held in Washington in January 2023. India in that meeting

Amid layoffs, tech firms exploit H-1B visa programme, finds EPI Study

"Most employers hire H-1B workers because they can be underpaid and are de facto indentured to the employer," the EPI research said.

Online petition launched to extend H-1B visa holders' grace period

Amidst massive layoffs in the American tech sector that have resulted in a large number of Indian professionals being jobless, two Indian-American organisations have launched an online petition urging President Joe Biden to extend the grace period of H-1B visas holders from two months to a year. This means that once fired from a job, a foreign tech worker on H-1B visas would have one year to find a new job instead of the existing duration of 60 days, after which they have to leave the country. 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. On behalf of immigrants (from the world, mainly from India and China) as well as naturalised citizens like Indian-Americans, Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies and Global Technology Professionals ...

Low annual limit for US H-1B work visa affecting employers: Study

The low annual limit for US H-1B work visa petitions is currently the main problem facing employers trying to secure foreign-born talent, according to a new research

'Trump exceeded constitutional authority': Three key updates on H-1B visa

Donald Trump's order to enforce ban on US companies' favourite visa, H-1b, has been blocked by a US federal judge

Former staff drop H-1B visa case against Disney, may try other options

We lost because it's legal, says Sara Blackwell, the US attorney who had filed a lawsuit on behalf of the 250 Disney IT workers in 2014 over alleged H-1B visa abuse by the entertainment giant

US delays its proposal to end H-1B spouses' work authorisation until June

The extension of the decision-making process by four months comes as a temporary relief to the spouses of H-1B visas holders

New H-1B policy by Trump govt an effort to protect Americans: USCIS

The H-1B programme offers temporary US visas that allow companies to hire highly skilled foreign professionals

Any disruptive move on H-1B visa will be detrimental for India, US: Nasscom

According to Nasscom, the use of visas by Indian IT firms has fallen by 50% in the last two years

Donald Trump's H-1B changes could end up deporting 500,000 Indian techies

The Bill will tighten the definition of visa-dependent companies and imposes fresh restrictions in terms of minimum salary and movement of talent

H-1B visa issue: How Indian IT ends up at wrong end of the stick

It would be a while before the legislation reaches the White House for a final presidential nod

Not much effect on India

It is only the entry-level job seeker whose H-1B visa application may undergo more scrutiny