H-1b Visa Holders

Walmart suspends H-1B hiring amid Trump's new $100,000 visa fee hike

Walmart has paused hiring workers needing H-1B visas after the Trump administration introduced a $100,000 fee, creating uncertainty for employers and foreign employees

US Senator backs H-1B overhaul, plans bills to prioritise American workers

Senator Tom Cotton plans bills to overhaul the H-1B programme as the Labor Department rolls out Project Firewall to protect US jobs from visa misuse

Trump admin's $100K H-1B visa fee hike could hit US doctors, hospitals

The Trump administration has announced a $100,000 annual H-1B visa fee hike; visa quotas remain unchanged at 65,000 for regular applicants and 20,000 for advanced degree holders

New H1-B visa fee may cost 5,500 jobs a month, mostly Indian talent: JP Morgan

JPMorgan warns that Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee could slash 5,500 jobs a month, hitting Indian tech workers and US firms relying on skilled foreign talent

'Reckless' H1-B fee will have negative impact on IT industry: US lawmakers

US lawmakers and community leaders voiced concern over US President Donald Trump's plan to impose a USD 100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications, calling the move reckless and unfortunate that will have a huge negative impact on the IT industry. Trump's USD 100,000 H-1B visa fee is a reckless attempt to cut America off from high-skilled workers who have long strengthened our workforce, fuelled innovation, and helped build industries that employ millions of Americans, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said. Krishnamoorthi said many H-1B holders ultimately become citizens and launch businesses that create well-paying jobs in the US. "While other nations race to attract global talent, the United States should strengthen its workforce and modernise our immigration systemnot erect barriers that weaken our economy and security, he said. Former advisor to president Joe Biden and Asian-American community leader on immigration policy, Ajay Bhutoria, warned of a potential crisis for the US ...

Trump admin to hike H-1B visa fees to $100,000: All you need to know

Trump administration clarified that visa quotas are not changing; the annual limit remains 65,000 regular visas plus 20,000 for advanced degree holders from US universities

US Bill lowers remittance tax from 5% to 3.5% for non-US citizens

Govt sources say Bill will still hit remittances to India

Over 7,000 student exchange visitors from India overstayed in US in 2023

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

US hits H-1B visa cap for FY24: All you need to know

This limit, known as the H-1B cap, is currently set at 85,000, with an additional 20,000 visas reserved for individuals who have earned a Master's degree or higher from a US institution

How Indian techies will benefit from US H-1B renewal pilot programme

If the pilot is successful, H-1B visa holders will just have to mail their visas to the State Department, and will not have to travel outside the US to their home countries for renewals.

Canadian govt to create open work-permit stream for US H-1B visa holders

In an official release, Canada's Ministry of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship said the program will also provide for study or work permits for the family members of H-1B visa holders

Tech sector H-1B workers' spouses can continue to work in US, says judge

The ability of H-1B holders' spouses to also get jobs in the US has been a major attraction for highly skilled foreign workers, the tech companies have argued

Time running out for laid off H-1B employees expected to leave soon

Time is running out for laid off H-1B professionals as under the existing laws they need to leave the country within 60 days of losing their employment status, giving sleepless nights to the thousands of Indian tech workers and their family members. "This has a humanitarian impact on them as their families, including their US-born children are uprooted abruptly, and those who were laid off in the earlier months are now running out of time," the Foundation For India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), which took up their cases with lawmakers and federal administration said in a statement on Friday. While the US Citizenship and Immigration Services is considering their request to extend the existing time window to 180 days, the process is likely to take up some time, leaving no other option for these professionals other than to leave the country. "FIIDS appeals to the USCIS, and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to consider a request to expedite the extension of grace period. FII

US to resume 'domestic visa revalidation' on pilot basis for H-1B holders

In a move that could benefit tens of thousands of foreign tech workers on H-1B and L1 visas, the US is planning to resume domestic visa revalidation in certain categories on a pilot basis with the goal of scaling it up in the next few years. The pilot project, to be launched later this year, when fully implemented, would be a big relief to thousands of Indian tech professionals in the United States. Until 2004, certain categories of non-immigrant visas, particularly the H-1B, could be renewed or stamped inside the US. After that, for renewal of these visas, in particular, those on H-1B, the foreign tech workers have to go out of the country, mostly to their own country to get the H-1B extension stamped on their passport. For all the H-1B visa holders, when their visa is renewed, they need to get their passports stamped with renewal dates. This is required if they wish to travel outside of the US and re-enter the US. As of now, H-1B visa restamping is not allowed within the ...

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

Automatic job authorisation becomes easier for spouses of H-1B visa holders

The Joe Biden administration has agreed to provide automatic work authorisation permits to spouses of H-1B visas holders

Trump's H-1B ban expires: What this means for Indian IT professionals

The US issues up to 85,000 H-1B visas each year. Most of the nearly 600,000 H-1B visa holders are from India and China

US completes H-1B initial electronic registration selection process

The US has received enough electronic applications during the initial registration period to reach the 2022 fiscal year cap for the H-1B foreign workers visa

Lawsuit filed against delay in processing of EADs for spouses of H-1B visas

A top US association of immigration lawyers has filed a case against Homeland Security for extraordinary delays in processing EADs of spouses of foreign workers in the country on H-1B and L1 visas

Trump's biggest H-1B changes blocked: What it means for Indian techies

A US court has blocked two H-1B regulations proposed by the Trump administration to restrict the ability of American companies to hire foreign employees