US authoritiessaid that there was a sharp10% declinein the approval ofH-1B visasby
theU.S. in 2018,which
is popular among highly skilled IndianIT
professionals.The experts attributed to the aggressive
policies of the Trump administration to clamp down on the use of the work visa
programme.
What
is H-1b Visa?
The H-1B visa programme is the main vehicle
through whichUS
employers can sponsor skilled foreignworkers for
admission. It is anon-immigrant
visathat allows U.S. companies to employ foreign workers
in specialty occupations that requiretheoretical or technical expertise.
10%
decline in approval rate:
In 2018, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS) approved3,35,000
H-1B visas, both new and renewable. This was 10% less than the3,73,400 visasapproved
in the previous fiscal year of 2017, according to the USCIS’ annual statistical
report. The approval rate of H-1B declined from 93% in 2017 to 85% in
2018.
For the firstsix monthsof the fiscal year
2019, the overall approval rate of theH-1B visafor new and continuing
visas continued to stay to79%
by the end of March, down from 85% last year.
Buy
American and Hire American:
“Buy
American and Hire American” executive order which was signed byTrump in April 2017,
seeks to create higher wages and employment rates for U.S. workers. It also
seeks to protect their economic interests byrigorously enforcingand
administering our immigration laws. It also directed to advance policies to
help ensure H-1B visas are awarded to the most-skilled or highest-paid
beneficiaries.
