H-1B Visa Reforms May Be Delayed
Suppose the Democrats choose to introduce immigration reforms in a series of small steps instead of passing President Joe Biden’s immigration plan. In that case, the proposed increase in H-1B visa allocation for high-skilled workers may not happen this year. Biden has called for a dramatic rise in the number of Green Cards issued and facilitated highly skilled workers’ immigration. It is encouraged by U.S. employers, who are seeking liberal reforms to the H-1B Visa and other pathways.
House Democrats may favor more popular immigration measures – like helping agricultural workers, refugees and people brought to the USA illegally as children by their parents – above less popular reforms like increasing skilled immigration to the USA. The demand for foreign workers in the I.T. sector exceeds the annual H-1B Visa cap (65,000 visas), but reform in this area faces skepticism. These reforms may become easily green-lit post-pandemic.
High-skilled visas are mostly for recruiting foreign tech workers who have advanced academic qualifications and specialized training. These industries want to welcome more foreign workers, and workers’ rights groups want these immigrants to switch employers instead of being tied to a single employer in the USA. Since Senate Democrats have not unanimously agreed on an immigration strategy, reforms for high-skilled workers are at risk.
Biden’s proposed U.S. immigration bill does not increase the annual cap for temporary worker visas but increases the number of available employment-based Green Cards. Currently, per-country caps on visa allocation result in large backlogs for Indian skilled workers. Also, there are not sufficient long-term immigration pathways for international students. However, increasing the H-1B visa cap seems unlikely due to opposition from Republicans and labor unions and the slow economy.
Under the Trump administration, H-1B visa denials rose to 29% in mid-2020 compared to only 6% in 2015, as per the National Foundation for American Policy. Due to the pandemic, the government had suspended these visas entirely. Economic recovery post-pandemic could pave the way for skilled immigration reforms. For details on the U.S. visa requirements and procedures, consult experienced professionals by contacting 8595338595 or writing to [email protected].
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