US intensifies H-1B visas scrutiny, heat on freshers

Headwinds for Indian IT firms in different markets

The $115-billion software services sector in the country will possibly have to deal with fresh restrictions after the Donald Trump government announced measures to step up scrutiny of H1B visa holders in the US. There are plans to prohibit visas to entry-level engineers too.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services Agency (USCIS) on Monday said it would scrutinise petitions on three parameters — validation of employer’s basic business information, higher H1B employee ratio and employers petitioning for H1B workers who work offsite at another company or organisation’s location. There will be more scrutiny of fresh engineers who apply for these